Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu laments the delay in the launch of foreign players before Chile 2025

Flying Eagles chief coach Aliyu Zubairu, has expressed concern about the reticence of some European clubs to free Nigeria guest players as preparations for the FIFA U20 Chile World Cup 2025 intensify.

Speaking from the team’s abuja camp, about preparation and progress, Zubairu said the team is currently in the third and last phase of preparations, but the absence of key players abroad remains an important challenge.

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“We have been able to obtain our best players, both here and abroad, invited to intensify our preparations,” he told Sports247.

“Although some players based abroad are not yet here, since clubs are being damaged in their launch,” said the coach.

Despite the reverse, Zubairu is still optimistic about Nigeria’s possibilities to lift the elusive U20 World Cup trophy, after having finished as a runner -up in 1989 and 2005.

“We will continue working with the players on the ground and highlight the best of us.”

By winning the FIFA World Cup, the coach said: “I think we can do it. If we can get all our guest players from abroad on time, I think we can win it.”

“But it is a great battle trying to free those players,” Zubairu added.

Nigeria has been drawn in Group F along with Colombia, Norway and Saudi Arabia.

The 24 team tournament is scheduled for September 27 to October 19, 2025, in four host cities: Santiago, Rancagua, Talca and Valparaíso.

The competition format will see the two best teams in each group, along with the four best sides of the third place, they will advance to the elimination stage.

With five FIFA World Cup titles U17 won by Nigeria Golden Eaglets, the Flying Eagles aim to replicate that success at level U20 by winning the global youth championship for the first time in history.

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