Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will look to secure a place in the quarter-finals at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations when they take on Morocco on Sunday (today.
The Group B encounter will hold at the June 30 Air Defence Stadium, Cairo.
The Flying Eagles started their campaign on a winning note, edging past Tunisia 1-0 on Thursday.
Akwa United midfielder Auwal Ibrahim scored the decisive goal seven minutes before the break.
Morocco rallied to beat Kenya 3-2 in their opening fixture.
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The two countries last met in the semi-finals of the 2005 tournament, playing to a thrilling 2-2 draw before Nigeria triumphed 5-3 in a penalty shootout.
Nigeria will be playing their 99th match at the U-20 AFCON and are seeking their 57th win.
The Flying Eagles are unbeaten in their last four second group games (W3 D1), with their last defeat coming in 2011 – a 1-0 loss to Cameroon.
Morocco are also unbeaten in their last seven group-stage matches at the finals (W5 D2).
Tonight’s encounter will kick-off at 7pm Nigeria time.
By Adeboye Amosu
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Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu is expected to review his starting eleven for tonight’s titanic U-20 Afcon Group B clash against deadly Morocco.
“Possibly, there might be one or two changes in the lineup,” hinted Zubairu, in what is anticipated to be a tactical measure.
He appears to demand a more creative, cohesive and communicative hue from his lads in this hugely anticipated encounter.
“Definitely, there is going to be much improvement in our game considering the fact that the last match was the first match of the tournament and tension of the unforeseen will always be there.”
Morocco – whose senior national team performed wonders in the 2022 Qatar World Cup – are firm favourites to lift this U-20 Afcon with young, vibrant and exciting players in their ranks. The Moroccan Football Association in recent times have invested heavily in their national teams across age and gender.
The NFF can perhaps learn a thing or two from their Moroccan counterparts.
A positive outcome from the Flying Eagles will be a monumental boost to Nigeria’s credentials in this tournament.
Fans of both teams are eagerly looking forward to this duel.
Kick-off tonight for the Flying Eagles clash against Morocco is 7 pm Nigerian time.