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I was waiting for the safe arrival of the Flying Eagles in Santiago, the capital of Chile – and now that they’ve landed, the story can begin.
It’s that time of year when FIFA’s nearly flawless calendar brings U20 teams from across the globe together to compete for the World Cup. It’s a tournament the Flying Eagles know well, having proven their quality time and again over the years.
In 1985, guided by Paul ‘Wonder Boy’ Hamilton, the team glimpsed a podium finish when they secured third place. That squad featured the likes of Samson Siasia, Monday Odiaka, Alloy Agu, and Waidi Akanni, among others. What made the team remarkable was that all its players were selected from the Nigerian league.
Four years later came the first of two runner-up finishes: in 1989 against a Jorge Couto-inspired Portuguese side, and later in 2005 against an Argentine team propelled by Lionel Messi. That campaign also introduced Mikel Obi to the world. Oh, what a tournament he had!
Beyond the Super Falcons and Super Eagles, the Flying Eagles hold the next national spotlight. This competition consistently provides a platform for the team to showcase a fresh crop of talents and offers yet another chance to remind the world why Nigeria boasts seven U20 African titles.
The 20-player squad that touched down in Chile has on paper the right mix to make history, provided Coach Aliyu Zubairu gets his selection right. Fortunately, there were few, if any, complaints when his final list was announced by the Football Federation – a public sign of confidence, or perhaps indifference, given the recent heartbreak delivered by the Super Eagles following their 1-1 draw against South Africa in the World Cup qualifier.
Whatever the case, these boys-now men-have the chance to write their own story in Chile.
Looking at the squad, the goalkeeping trio of Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos), Clinton Ezekiel (Bayelsa United), and Rufa’i Abubakar (Mavlon FC) offers a blend of domestic familiarity and youthful promise. In defense, Ocheche Amos Onyejefu of Stade de Reims in France and Daniel Bameyi of Bayelsa United provide a balance of European polish and local grit. Midfielders like Israel Ayuma (NK Istra, Croatia) and Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway) bring international experience, while forwards such as Abdullahi Shitu Ele of Manchester City FC in England hint at the firepower Zubairu can unleash.
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The Flying Eagles begin their quest for gold against Norway on Monday, 29 September, before facing Saudi Arabia on 2 October and Colombia on 5 October. Each game will demand a different strategy. Norway is known for its organised structure and disciplined style of play, while Saudi Arabia often surprises with tactical fluidity and swift attacking transitions. Colombia, as always, will rely on skillful flair and pace.
On the opposition, Zubairu said: “We have to think about different tactics for our three group opponents. The first step is to study tapes of their recent matches so we can plan how to beat them. Our immediate target is to secure one of the tickets out of the group, and then we’ll turn our focus to the next round.”
Sounds like a healthy plan, but again the players’ ability to adapt quickly, coupled with their mental resolve, will be key.
The previous squad narrowly missed out on the semi-finals, edged by South Korea in extra time. This current crop carries that weight of expectation, but also a renewed sense of purpose that this could be Nigeria’s year.
1 Comment
by Anietie Ezekiel
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