Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has shouldered the blame for Nigeria’s 1-0 loss to South Africa in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
The closely contested tie, played on Thursday at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, saw Tylon Smith net the decisive goal in the 66th minute to send the Amajita into the final.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Zubairu didn’t shy away from accountability.
“I take full responsibility for our failure to reach the final. As head coach, the blame rests on me,” he said.
Looking ahead to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, Zubairu revealed plans to revamp the team based on lessons learned from the tournament.
“This tournament has helped us identify the players capable of stepping up to the next level and those who are not. After our WAFU B success, we dropped many players because their quality wasn’t sufficient for the continental stage,” he noted.
“A similar review will happen again. It’s clear that some of the current squad members aren’t ready for the demands of a World Cup.”
The Flying Eagles have struggled in attack throughout the competition, managing just two goals from open play and squandering several scoring opportunities.
Zubairu acknowledged the team’s wastefulness in front of goal.
“Our biggest problem has been poor finishing. We’ve created chances but failed to convert them. Everyone knows Kparobo Arierhi is a clinical striker, and we relied on him heavily. Unfortunately, he couldn’t deliver here. That said, he remains a quality player—this just wasn’t his tournament,” he admitted.
Nigeria will now battle hosts Egypt for third place on Sunday.