Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, insists his boys are ready to make a statement in Chile as they kick off their FIFA U20 World Cup campaign against Norway today, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria, who are chasing a return to the final for the first time in over two decades, will look to hit the ground running in Group F, where they also face Saudi Arabia and Colombia.
Zubairu on the Importance of the Opening Game
Speaking to the Flying Eagles Media Officer, Sharif Abdallah, ahead of the clash, Zubairu revealed the importance of the opening game and confirmed the team is in good shape.
“We are very much prepared. This is our last training before the first match, as you said, in the next 24 hours. In every competition, the first match is very, very important because if you can get the first match right, it’s going to give you more focus, raise the confidence level of the boys, and strengthen our footing in the competition. So we are going to approach tomorrow’s match with all seriousness to make sure that we come out victorious in the first match.”
Studying Norway’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Norway will not be an unknown quantity, as the coach revealed his backroom staff had studied their strengths and weaknesses.
“Of course, we know our opponents. We’re in a digital world now, and we’ve seen a lot of their matches. We’ve analysed them at the technical crew level and tried to put one or two things we observed into training so that the players will be conversant with what they are likely to face during the match. When it is time for us to talk about the match, we’re going to analyse them better so that the players will have the right mentality on how to approach them.”
Flying Eagles' High Expectations, No Excuses
Nigeria last reached the U20 World Cup final in 2005, and the expectations back home remain high. For Zubairu, those expectations should not be a burden, but rather a source of motivation.
“I think that has always been part of Nigeria. I’ve said it time without number and the players fully know that when you come out for a competition in Nigeria, there’s nothing short of success expected. Nobody wants to hear excuses, and we don’t give excuses. We know that very much and we are prepared towards that. But we are not going to allow that to be pressure on us. All we know is it’s going to be a motivation. It’s going to encourage us to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.”
Zubairu rounded off with a rallying message to fans:
“They should expect us to come out victorious in tomorrow’s match. We are going all out to get the three points.”
The Flying Eagles’ clash with Norway is expected to set the tone for their World Cup journey, as they look to conquer Group D and end Nigeria’s 20-year wait for a return to the tournament’s biggest stage.
