The National Sports Commission (NSC) has praised Nigeria’s Under-20 football team, the Flying Eagles, for reaching the semi-finals of the ongoing AFCON U20 tournament in Egypt. This achievement also secured their qualification for the FIFA U20 World Cup set to take place in Chile.
Led by coach Aliyu Zubairu, the team earned this milestone by defeating defending champions Senegal in the quarter-finals held Monday at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, chairman of the NSC, expressed his delight in a statement released Tuesday in Abuja. He highlighted the team’s steady improvement throughout the tournament, which culminated in a strong performance against Senegal.
“I want to thank the Nigeria Football Federation for this achievement,” Dikko said. “It reflects the resilience of the players and coaching staff. The team’s performance so far shows the hard work put into their preparation and training.”
Dikko added, “We have a great record at this level, and Monday’s performance proves it. On behalf of all Nigerians and the President, I urge the team to stay focused and aim to win the tournament.”
The NSC’s Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, described the Flying Eagles’ success as part of a wider trend of strong performances by Nigerian national teams in various sports.
“This is no accident,” Olopade said. “Our President is committed to sustainable sports development starting from the grassroots. We are dedicated to properly funding federations and supporting our athletes to excel on the international stage.”
He expressed confidence that the Flying Eagles, having secured their World Cup spot, now have a real chance to win the tournament.
In the semi-finals, Nigeria will face South Africa, while hosts Egypt will take on Morocco in the other match. The winners will advance to the final of the AFCON U20 tournament.
