Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign for an eighth Africa U-20 Cup of Nations title with a 1–0 win over Tunisia in a tense Group B opener held at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Thursday.
The only goal of the match came in the 38th minute, when Akwa United forward Auwal Ibrahim calmly finished a sweeping team move, demonstrating both composure and timing.
That solitary goal proved decisive, securing all three points for Nigeria and sending an early signal of the team’s ambitions in Egypt.
Ibrahim’s finish followed a well-constructed buildup, echoing the attacking confidence the Flying Eagles showed earlier in the week in a 2–1 friendly victory over host nation Egypt.
Speaking before the match, Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu had spoken of the need to open the tournament strongly, noting that the win against Egypt had boosted the squad’s belief. “That result gave us confidence and momentum, but we knew we had to stay focused against another North African side,” he said.
Nigeria’s squad features a blend of home-based players and Europe-based prospects, including Germany-based Precious Benjamin and WAFU B standout Kparobo Arierhi. With Thursday’s victory, they now lead Group B as they prepare for their second group match.
The win also extended Nigeria’s dominance over Tunisia in the history of the U-20 AFCON, following previous victories in the 2023 third-place match and the 1985 final.
The Flying Eagles have set their sights on at least a top-four finish, which would secure qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year.
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