According to a report by All Nigeria Soccer, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their preparations for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup with a competitive 1-1 draw against Chile in a friendly match played in South America.
Aliyu Zubairu’s team showed promise in their first official warm-up game, combining defensive organization with attacking intent, but were ultimately held by La Rojita after conceding a first-half equalizer.
The Nigerians started brightly, pressing high and dictating the early tempo. Their dominance was rewarded in the 18th minute when a well-worked set-piece broke the deadlock. Tahir Maigana swung in a precise corner from the left, and Ahmed Akinyele rose above his marker to head emphatically past the Chilean goalkeeper. The goal underlined Nigeria’s early control, with captain Daniel Bameyi marshalling the backline and ensuring composure from the rear.
However, the hosts found their rhythm as the half progressed and began exploiting gaps in the Nigerian defense. Their persistence paid off in the 36th minute when a defensive lapse allowed Chile to level matters, denying the Flying Eagles the chance to head into the break with their advantage intact.
Despite the setback, Nigeria continued to pose a threat, particularly through the attacking movement of Charles Agada and Ayuma Israel, whose pace troubled the Chilean backline. The second half saw coach Zubairu make several changes, introducing fresh legs to assess his wider squad options ahead of the World Cup. The substitutions maintained the team’s energy levels, but neither side was able to carve out a decisive opening.
The 1-1 draw offered valuable lessons for Zubairu and his technical crew, especially in terms of defensive concentration and midfield transitions. It also highlighted the team’s ability to compete strongly against quality opposition, with Akinyele’s goal a positive sign of Nigeria’s set-piece potential.
With the World Cup fast approaching, the Flying Eagles will continue their preparations with another warm-up fixture against Australia on Tuesday, September 23. That clash is expected to provide further insights into the team’s readiness as Zubairu fine-tunes his tactics for the global showpiece.
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