The National Sports Commission (NSC) has commended Nigeria’s Under-20 men’s football team, the Flying Eagles, for reaching the semi-finals of the ongoing AFCON U20 tournament in Egypt and securing qualification for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
The team, coached by Aliyu Zubairu, achieved this feat by defeating defending champions Senegal in Monday’s quarter-final clash at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.
Reacting to the victory, NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, in a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, praised the team’s steady improvement throughout the competition, culminating in a dominant display against Senegal.
“I want to commend the Nigeria Football Federation for this achievement, which highlights the determination and unity of the players and their technical team,” he said.
Dikko added, “The boys’ performances reflect the effort put into their training and preparation. Nigeria has a strong track record at this level, and their showing on Monday reinforces that. On behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and all Nigerians, I encourage them to stay focused and aim for the title.”
Director-General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, described the Flying Eagles’ success as another positive outcome from Nigeria’s sports sector.
“Our national teams are consistently performing well internationally, and this is no coincidence,” he noted. “It reflects the clear mandate we’ve received — the President is deeply committed to long-term sports development, starting from the grassroots.”
Olopade emphasized the Commission’s dedication to funding and supporting sports federations to ensure athletes are well-equipped to represent the country on the global stage.
He also expressed optimism about the team’s chances at the World Cup, stating that with their qualification secured, they now have a real shot at winning the tournament.
The Flying Eagles are set to face South Africa in the semi-finals, while hosts Egypt will battle Morocco in the other semi-final match.