The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have secured their place at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile following a dramatic 3-1 penalty shootout victory over defending champions Senegal in the quarter-final of the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
The match, played at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia on May 12, 2025, ended goalless after a tense 120 minutes of play, with both sides showing tactical discipline but failing to break the deadlock. The game was ultimately decided by penalties, where Nigeria held their nerve and emerged victorious.
With this win, Nigeria not only advances to the semi-finals of the U-20 AFCON but also cements their 14th appearance at the FIFA U-20 World Cup the highest by any African team. They join Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa as Africa’s representatives in the 2025 edition, which will be hosted in Chile.
The Flying Eagles will face South Africa in the semi-final after the Amajita edged DR Congo 1-0 in extra time.
As the tournament progresses, Coach Zubairu remains focused on the bigger goal.
“Qualifying for the World Cup is a huge achievement, but we’re not done yet. We want to lift this trophy. We owe it to the fans, and to Nigerian football,” he said.
Nigeria’s quest for a record-extending eighth U-20 AFCON title continues this weekend as they battle South Africa in what promises to be another high-stakes encounter.
Flying Eagles goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt was the standout performer of the night, making two crucial saves during the shootout and earlier denying Ibrahima Dieng’s clear chance in the 54th minute of regulation time. His commanding presence between the posts gave Nigeria the edge when it mattered most.
On the other end, Nigeria’s penalty takers Precious Benjamin, Emmanuel Chukwu, and Israel Ayuma converted their efforts with precision. In contrast, Senegal managed to convert only one of their four kicks, with Ousmane Konate’s decisive miss sending Nigeria into the semi-finals and booking their ticket to Chile.
Speaking after the match, Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu praised his players for their discipline and mental strength.
“We trained for this moment. Every possible scenario was prepared for including penalties. The boys stuck to the plan and executed it when it mattered the most. That’s what champions do,” Zubairu told reporters.
He added that the victory was more than just qualification it was a statement of Nigeria’s pedigree in youth football.
“Senegal are the defending champions, a very strong side. But we showed we belong at the top. We played with heart, with unity, and with belief,” he said.
The victory also served as redemption for Nigeria, who were beaten 1-0 by Senegal during the group stage of the 2023 edition of the tournament. That loss had stung, and Monday’s result provided a fitting response.
Team captain Benjamin Fredrick echoed the sentiments in a brief post-match comment:
“We remembered what happened last time. Today we played for pride, for the badge, and for millions of Nigerians. We’re proud to represent Africa’s most successful U-20 team once again at the World Cup.”