Zubairu blames poor finishing for Flying Eagles' U-20 AFCON title miss, eyes redemption at World Cup

Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has pointed to poor finishing as the primary reason Nigeria failed to win the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, NigeriaSoccernet.com writes.

Nigeria were edged 1-0 by South Africa in the semi-final but secured third place with a 4-1 penalty shootout win over hosts Egypt. Despite clinching a FIFA U-20 World Cup ticket, Zubairu admitted the team fell short of its main objective.

“One of our key challenges throughout the tournament has been our lack of clinical finishing,” said Zubairu. “We created chances but couldn’t consistently convert them. Our transitions were good, but we lacked sharpness in the final third.”

The El-Kanemi Warriors tactician described the bronze medal as a respectable consolation, though not what they set out to achieve.

“We didn’t come here aiming for third place, but half a loaf is better than none,” he added. “It was important to end on a strong note, even after securing World Cup qualification.”

Zubairu also highlighted the team’s recurring issue of conceding early goals, which he attributed to lapses in concentration—not tactical decisions.

“No coach plans to concede first. It cost us against South Africa, but I must credit the players for their resilience and ability to respond.”

Meanwhile, team captain Daniel Bameyi was named in the CAF Team of the Tournament, rewarding his consistent leadership and performances.

The Flying Eagles will now focus on the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, scheduled for September 27 to October 19, where they hope to correct their shortcomings and challenge for global honours.