Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, departed Abuja on Sunday night for Santiago, Chile, to intensify preparations ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Naija News reports that the 2025 U-20 World Cup kicks off on September 27 and runs until October 19.
The seven-time African champions, who have been in camp in Abuja for the past month, will hold a two-week training camp in Chile. Part of their programme includes warm-up matches against local clubs, designed to help the players adapt to South America’s unique climate, altitude, and playing conditions.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group F, alongside Colombia, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. The Flying Eagles begin their campaign against Norway on September 29, before facing Saudi Arabia three days later. Their final group-stage match, against Colombia on October 5, could prove decisive in determining their progression.
Head coach Aliyu Zubairu has assembled a mix of home-based and foreign-based players, including Kparobo Arierhi of Norwegian side Mjøndalen IF and Sporting Lagos goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt. However, the squad will be without defender Adamu Ba’aba Maigari, who misses out due to a knee injury.
Zubairu is expected to name his final 21-man squad on September 19.
Note that the Flying Eagles of Nigeria have finished runners-up in the competition twice, in 1989 and 2005, and will be aiming to finally lift the elusive trophy in this forthcoming edition.
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