By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 29, 2025

Flying Eagles captain, Daniel Bameyi, says the team’s target at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile is to end Nigeria’s agonising wait for the title, as they begin their campaign against Norway on Monday (today), The PUNCH reports.

Nigeria will be making their 14th appearance at the tournament in Chile – the most by any African country, but they have never won the title. Ghana are the only team from Africa to have won the tournament.

With their rich experience, the Flying Eagles are two-time runners-up (1989, 2005) and quarter-finalists in 1999, 2007 and most recently in 2023.

Since reaching the final in 2005, the Flying Eagles have never gone beyond the quarter-final stages, but Bameyi believes that is about to end.

“This team has what it takes to go even beyond. We will just need to take it a step at a time with all focus and seriousness,” the captain told Olympics.com.

“And the target is to have a good outing and fly the nation’s flag to the highest level. We want to be champions, and that’s why we have been preparing for every single game since all this while. To be a champion, you must beat the best to be the best, and that’s why we will be prepared to take it one game after another.”

The 19-year-old Bayelsa United defender, who is also making his second appearance at the tournament, is also banking on the squad’s depth and technical ability.

“Nigeria is a powerhouse when it comes to youth football, and we all know that. With the quality of this squad, I believe we can achieve anything we want to. We have a good technical and tactical crew, so it depends on us now as the actors to go into the pitch and deliver.”

The team is led to Chile by coach Aliyu Zubairu, who is also aiming to rewrite Nigeria’s history in the competition. Zubairu led the team to a third-place finish at the 2025 U-20 AFCON in Egypt, where they picked up the ticket to the World Cup.

“We are getting information on our opponents as well, their strengths and individual abilities. We respect all the teams in the group. We are not underestimating them, and we cannot compromise, as long as we have the ambition of going beyond our past record,” the coach said before departing for Chile.

After their opening game against Norway today, the Flying Eagles will face Saudi Arabia on Friday before their final group game against Colombia next Monday.

Source Punch Ng

Posted September 29, 2025

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