Nigeria’s U20 boys’ national team, the Flying Eagles, commenced their first training session in Santiago, Chile, on Wednesday evening as they continue preparations for the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup.
The session, held at the Cancha Liga Training Pitch, lasted for two hours under the supervision of head coach Aliyu Zubair. Earlier in the day, the squad underwent a recovery session at their base, Le Meridien Hotel, ahead of scheduled friendlies against Chile U20 on Saturday, September 20, and Australia U20 on Tuesday, September 23.
Coach Zubair emphasised the importance of adjusting to local conditions.
“Our initial sessions are focused on fitness and tactical cohesion. Playing in Santiago requires us to quickly adapt to the environment, and these friendlies will help the players gain the necessary match rhythm,” he said.
The Flying Eagles’ training regime in Santiago includes a mix of technical drills, recovery sessions, and tactical exercises designed to refine defensive organisation and attacking patterns ahead of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s U17 Women’s National Team, the Flamingos, continued their build-up to the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco with back-to-back victories in Abuja on Wednesday, September 17.
At the FIFA Goal Project facility, the Flamingos first secured a narrow 1–0 win over Eagle’s Wing U13 Boys, courtesy of an early goal from Fatimoh Shuaib. Despite sustained pressure from the opposition, goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface marshalled the defense to preserve the lead.
Later in the day, the Flamingos dominated Harmony FA U13 Boys with a 3–0 victory. Zainab Raji opened the scoring, followed by a second from Olamide Olanrewaju, and Favour Etim added a third after coming off the bench. Head coach Aisha Falode highlighted the significance of the matches in building confidence.
“These friendlies allow the players to sharpen their attacking instincts and defensive coordination. The World Cup is a different challenge, and keeping the entire squad active in camp ensures readiness for Morocco,” she said.
The Flamingos are grouped with Canada, France, and Samoa in Group D at the upcoming tournament, scheduled from October 17 to November 8, 2025. Both the Flying Eagles and Flamingos are using these preparatory matches to assess squad depth, integrate tactical plans, and foster cohesion among players, with the aim of improving Nigeria’s performance on the global stage.
