AFCON opener: Flying Eagles defeat Tunisia 1-0 in U-20

U-20 AFCON opener: Flying Eagles defeat Tunisia 1-0

On Thursday, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles started their quest for an eighth Africa U-20 Cup of Nations title on a winning note, edging Tunisia 1-0 in a tightly contested Group B opener at Cairo’s 30 June Stadium.

In the 38th minute, the decisive moment came when Auwal Ibrahim calmly finished off a flowing team move.

The goal ultimately proved enough to seal all three points for Nigeria and underline their early intent in the tournament.

Ibrahim’s strike was a product of composed buildup play, with the Flying Eagles showcasing the same attacking verve that had earned them a 2-1 victory over host nation Egypt in a warm-up match earlier in the week.

Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu had emphasised the importance of a strong start ahead of the game, describing the friendly win against Egypt as a crucial morale booster. “That result gave us confidence and momentum, but we knew we had to stay focused against another North African side,” Zubairu said before the match.

With a balanced mix of home-based stars and European-based talent such as Germany-based Precious Benjamin and WAFU B standout Kparobo Arierhi, Nigeria now sit top of Group B ahead of their second group-stage clash against

The victory also extended Nigeria’s dominant record over Tunisia in U-20 AFCON history, having previously defeated them in the 2023 third-place match and in the 1985 final.

The Flying Eagles have set the primary target of finishing at least among the top four in Egypt to secure a coveted spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year.