Nigeria's Flying Eagles have secured their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after defeating Senegal in a tense quarter-final match on Monday in Egypt.
The match, held at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, ended in a goalless draw after 120 minutes of play, forcing the decision to be made through a penalty shootout. The Flying Eagles emerged victorious in the shootout, booking their spot in the tournament's last four.
With this victory, Nigeria has also automatically qualified for the upcoming U-20 FIFA World Cup, marking a significant achievement for the team and Nigerian football.
The semi-final match is scheduled to take place on Thursday, where the Flying Eagles will continue their quest for what could be Nigeria's eighth U-20 AFCON title. Nigeria has previously won the competition seven times, establishing themselves as one of the dominant forces in youth football across the continent.
Following the match, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau reportedly charged the team to aim for the trophy after securing their World Cup ticket, highlighting the federation's ambitions for the squad.
The tournament has seen several strong performances from African youth teams, with South Africa set to face Morocco in the final of the competition, according to related reports.
Coach Zubairu, who leads the Flying Eagles, has acknowledged the need to reassess the team's strategy following their earlier loss to South Africa in the tournament, but has now set new targets after securing World Cup qualification.
The Flying Eagles will be looking to build on this momentum as they prepare for their semi-final match and potentially advance to the final stages of the competition.
