The Nation Newspaper

Tag: U-20 World Cup

  • U-20 World Cup: Kamaldeen, Maigana vow to inspire Flying Eagles, eye global glory

    U-20 World Cup: Kamaldeen, Maigana vow to inspire Flying Eagles, eye global glory

    Kwara Football Academy (KFA) midfielder, Abduljelil Kamaldeen, and Wireless FC winger, Tahir Maigana, have pledged to give their all as Nigeria’s Flying Eagles chase a maiden FIFA Under-20 World Cup title in Chile.

    Nigeria, who finished runners-up in 1989 and 2005, will begin their Group F campaign against Norway on Monday, September 29, before facing Saudi Arabia on October 2 and Colombia on October 5.

    Kamaldeen, 16, earned his spot in Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s final squad after excelling at the WAFU B U-20 tournament in Ghana earlier this year, where he scored in Nigeria’s 4-1 comeback win over the Benin Republic.

    The young midfielder scored a goal to help the Flying Eagles come from behind to beat Benin Republic 4-1 in their final group game to reach the semi-final of the WAFU B U-20 tournament.

    Having played a prominent role for Nigeria at the WAFU B U-20 tournament, Kamaldeen made the cut for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and just last week, he was in action for the Flying Eagles in a friendly match as they drew 1-1 with host nation Chile, in Rancagua.

    The 16-year-old, whose ability to control the midfield and inspire play has been widely praised by coaches and analysts alike, said he will go all out to help Nigeria defeat Norway in their opening group match of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

    “We know what we came to do in Chile, and we, the players, have spoken among ourselves that we need to start the tournament on a winning note. As for me, I promise to give my best to help the team achieve success,” Kamaldeen said.

    For Maigana from Borno State, the 17-year-old plays as a right winger and also participated in the 2025 U-20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt to cap an inspiring story of resilience and talent.

    Read Also: MISSION TO CHILE: Flying Eagles chase elusive U-20 World Cup glory in South America

    His story is that of grass to grace, having come from the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp to earn a spot in the Flying Eagles’ final squad for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

    Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, has long been affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, which has displaced thousands and led to the creation of IDP camps. Despite these hardships, Maigana’s football skills have stood out.

    Currently playing for Wireless Football Club in Abuja, Maigana is a naturally gifted left-footer, admired for his creativity and vision on the field, with his selection by coach Zubairu underscoring his potential to make a meaningful impact on the world stage.

    Speaking in Chile, Maigana said, “We cannot afford to fail in this tournament because we know what Nigerians are expecting from us back home. We will do our very best to ensure that we come out victorious against Norway in our first group game.”

  • U-20 World Cup: Falconets defeat Canada 3-1

    U-20 World Cup: Falconets defeat Canada 3-1

     
    Super Falconet’s midfielder, Rasheedat Ajibade who was named the Live Your Goals Player of the Match against Canada, has dedicated her award to her teammates and Coach, Peter Dedevbo. 

    In an interview, she stated; “I am excited and grateful to God for this award. Ajibade began. I am dedicating this award to my teammates for their support and especially to Coach Peter Dedevbo for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be part of the team.”

    However, Ajibade revealed that there is a huge difference between playing at the U-20 World Cup and playing at the U-17 cadre.

    “The difference is very clear, the pressure in the U-17 is not as strong as what I am experiencing here. It is more like the higher you go, the hotter it becomes.”
    Meanwhile, Nigeria will lock horns with   Spain in Group B, while Canada tackles Japan on November 20. 

  • Serbia wins U-20 World Cup

    Serbia wins U-20 World Cup

    Serbia won its first ever FIFA U-20 World Cup title on Saturday morning, with Nemanja Maksimovic grabbing a dramatic extra time winner to seal a 2-1 victory over Brazil.

    He had earlier set up Stanisa Mandic to open the scoring before substitute Andreas Pereira sent the game to extra time with a leveller for the Brazilians, who dominated possession but were undone by swift Serbian counter-attacks, fifa.com reports.

    After a cagey start by both teams, Brazil had the opening opportunity. Milos Veljkovic headed a dangerous-looking Brazilian free-kick as far as Jean Carlos on the edge of the Serbian penalty area. The Seleção No20 volleyed a vicious effort at goal with his right foot, but Predrag Rajkovic got down to push the ball away.

    Serbia had the best opportunity of the opening half. Just before the interval, Serbia’s star man Andrija Zivkovic whipped a corner to the back post from the Serbian right, which was headed back across goal by Babic. Sergej Milinkovic had a free header on goal, but Jean saved smartly.

    The Brazilians were quickest out of the blocks after the break. Jorge worked the ball well down the Selecao left, into the Serbian penalty area, before firing in a low cross. Rajkovic parried, Antonov poked away and skipper Danilo hit a wild effort over the bar from the edge of the box.

    The Serbians then fired a warning shot across Brazil’s area, with some threatening play down their right flank. Milan Gajic and Zivkovic linked up well, with the full-back breaking into the Brazilian box from the wing. The Serbian No2 hit a vicious shot at goal, which the Selecao goalkeeper saved well.

    That warning was not heeded by Brazil as the Eastern European side once again worked an opening down their right-hand side. This time, it resulted in the final’s opening goal.

    Maksimovic burst into the Brazilian penalty area down that right-hand side and chipped a delicate cross to the back post. Stanisa Mandic drifted in from the left-hand side, taking advantage of some slack defending by Joao Carlos to sweep home from inside the six yard box.

    The lead didn’t last long. Less than three minutes later, Andreas Pereira produced a moment of individual magic to level the scores. Having come on as a substitute less than 10 minutes earlier, Brazil’s No18 worked his way into the Serbian penalty area and cut inside onto his right foot before placing the ball with wonderful precision past Rajkovic in the Serbian goal.

    Pereira had a late chance to seal victory in the 90 minutes, but Rajkovic parried his free-kick away, meaning the fourth U-20 World Cup final in a row would require extra time to find a victor.

  • WYC: Iheanacho lands in New Zealand

    WYC: Iheanacho lands in New Zealand

    Manchester City starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho, on Monday became the first Flying Eagles’ player to land in New Zealand, ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Oceania nation.

    Injury stopped the Most Valuable Player of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup from the recent African Youth Championship in Senegal, africanFootball.com reports.

    Flying Eagles team secretary, Aliyu Auwal Ibrahim, confirmed the player’s arrival in Auckland.

    “Iheanacho is already in Auckland and waiting for us,” he told africanFootball.com.

    The main squad of 18 players will arrive Auckland on Tuesday afternoon before connecting to the match venue in New Plymouth.

    The African champions will play Brazil, North Korea and Hungary in the tournament‘s Group E.

  • Falconets good enough to win U-20 World Cup—Glo

    Falconets good enough to win U-20 World Cup—Glo

    Major sponsor of Nigerian national teams, Globacom, has called on the Super Falconets of Nigeria to make Nigeria proud by winning the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada on Sunday when the team lock horns with Germany.

    The Super Falconets walloped the Korea DPR U-20 Women team by 6-2 in the semi-finals on Thursday to advance to the finals of the competition for the second time, having lost to the Germans in the finals of 2010 U-20 Women World Cup.

    Globacom in a press statement in Lagos commended the Super Falconets for their hard work, total concentration and never-say-die spirit, which earned them the victory, and qualification for the Finals.

    “We believed from the beginning that the Falconets had the wherewithal to go all the way and we are not surprised that they are now just one match to claim the ultimate glory,” Glo stated.

    “You played a well co-ordinated match and out classed the Koreans, we look forward to an outstanding final against the Germans when you will do Nigeria and Africa proud by winning the cup,” the statement further added.

    The Super falconets have been on the ascendancy from the commencement of the tournament where they scored the fastest and second fastest goals in the history of the competition while the encounter against Korea has been rated as the highest scoring semifinal match in the history of FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

    With six goals, four from Asisat Oshoala who was the star of the match and two others from Courtney Dike and Uchechi Sunday, the Super Falconets qualified for the finals with class and panache, playing purposeful and cohesive football.

    Globacom commended the technical crew of the team for bringing the best out of the team and urged them not to rest on their oars, adding that the victory had deepened the Super Falconets’ rating as African Champions.

    The Company also commended Nigerians for their support for the Falconets and appealed to the fans to sustain the support till the ultimate victory is attained on Sunday.