President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has lauded Nigeria’s U 20 men’s football team, the Flying Eagles, for their performance at the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Despite a narrow 1-0 semi final defeat to South Africa on Thursday, the team secured qualification for the upcoming FIFA U 20 World Cup in Chile.
In a message shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, President Tinubu expressed pride in the team’s achievements:
“I congratulate our U20 men’s football team, the Flying Eagles, for their terrific run at the AFCON U20 2025 tournament in Egypt and qualifying for the FIFA U20 World Cup later this year in Chile. You did Nigeria proud despite tonight’s semi final loss! Keep your head up.”
The semi final match, held at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, saw South Africa’s Tylon Smith score the decisive goal in the 66th minute, capitalizing on a goalkeeping error.
Despite dominating possession and creating multiple scoring opportunities, the Flying Eagles were unable to find an equalizer.
This defeat marks Nigeria’s third consecutive semi final exit in the U20 AFCON, having previously fallen to Gambia in 2023 and Mali in 2019.
Nonetheless, the team’s progression to the semi finals secured their spot in the 2025 FIFA U 20 World Cup.
The Flying Eagles are scheduled to face Egypt in the third place playoff on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
