Flying Eagles will beat Niger, nothing otherwise – coach Aliyu Zubairu

The Flying Eagles will beat Niger tonight to qualify for the 2025 AFCON because they have conquered the fear and tension they suffered at the start of the U20 AFCON qualifying tournament in Togo, according to bullish coach Aliyu Zubairu.

Group B winners Nigeria will do battle against Group A runners-up Niger from 8pm at the Kegue Stadium in Lome, Togo, for ticket to next year’s U20 AFCON.

Coach Aliyu Zubairu was bullish in his pre-match press conference.

“We’re going to win the match, it won’t be otherwise,” he declared.

“The boys were jittery in the first match against Burkina Faso because for many of them that was their first international match and they are young.

“But they have since overcome that fear and tension and they will now play with calmness and concentration as a good team from Niger.”

He praised the team’s fighting spirit after they came back from a goal down to beat Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 and win Group B.

Niger, on the other hand, recorded four points from three matches.

They beat 2022 tournament finalists Benin 1-0 in a final group game after they lost 2-0 to Ghana and held hosts Togo to a 2-2 draw.