Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu has expressed confidence in his team’s readiness ahead of the kickoff of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
The former El-Kanemi Warriors manager stated that no group at the tournament should be underestimated, noting that outcomes will ultimately depend on how well each team is prepared.
He emphasized that the Flying Eagles have benefited from a well-structured preparation program, which included three consecutive training camps and six weeks of intensive training.
“There is no group that is not tough. It all depends on your preparation. If you think there is a group that is not tough, maybe we will go for it. But certainly, jokes apart, I think it is going to be highly competitive,” Zubairu said.
“I believe our preparation is not bad. We had good preparation.”
Nigeria has been drawn in Group F, where they will face Norway, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia.
Zubairu acknowledged the quality of their group opponents but maintained that the Flying Eagles are in good shape to compete.
The coach also highlighted the importance of taking every game seriously as the Flying Eagles continue their long pursuit of the FIFA U-20 World Cup title.
Nigeria has come close to winning the trophy on two occasions — finishing as runners-up in 1989 and again in 2005 — but are yet to lift the crown.
Zubairu will be aiming to finally guide Nigeria to its first-ever triumph on the global stage.
