By Aderonke Ojo
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign in Chile on a disappointing note, falling 1-0 to Norway in their opening Group game on Monday.
Head Coach Aliyu Zubair, however, praised his players for their commitment and fighting spirit, insisting that the defeat was more about misfortune than poor execution.
“The boys played their hearts out. They did everything humanly possible to make sure we won the match,” Zubair said after the encounter. “Even from the start, we created chances, but unfortunately our efforts kept hitting the bar. It just felt like we weren’t lucky.”
The Flying Eagles dominated possession for large spells and carved out multiple scoring opportunities, but a lack of clinical finishing and a resilient Norwegian backline meant they could not find a breakthrough.
Zubair, known for his tactical intelligence and ability to get the best out of young talents, stressed that the game underlined the harsh reality of football.
“Possession doesn’t win matches. If just one of our attempts had gone in, it would have changed the situation,” he noted. “But that is the way the game comes, and we have to take it as it is.”
Despite the setback, Zubair expressed optimism about Nigeria’s chances in the tournament, turning attention to the must-win clash against Saudi Arabia.
“We are going to think about the next match. We just have to pick up the three points,” he assured.