Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu is disappointed over his team’s defeat by Norway. The seven-time African champions suffered a narrow 1-0 loss against Bjorn Johansen’s side in their opening match of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Talca on Monday.
Captain Rasmus Holten secured the win for Norway with a penalty in the ninth minute. Zubairu expressed his frustration over missed opportunities, noting that Nigeria dominated possession but Norway defended resolutely. Forward Kparobo Ariehi struck the upright early on, while Tana Maigana also hit the crossbar in the second half.
“The boys played their hearts out. They did everything humanly possible to secure the victory,” Zubairu said during a media interaction after the match. “From the outset, we created chances, but unfortunately, our efforts kept hitting the bar. It felt as though luck was not on our side.”
The Flying Eagles will now focus on their upcoming match against Saudi Arabia on Thursday. Zubairu emphasised the importance of securing maximum points in this fixture.
“Possession doesn’t guarantee victories. If just one of our attempts had found the net, it would have altered the outcome. But that’s football; we must accept it,” Zubairu added. “We will concentrate on the next match and aim to earn those three points.”
