The Flying Eagles of Nigeria were held to a goalless draw by Morocco in their second Group B fixture at the ongoing 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo. The highly anticipated clash failed to produce much excitement as both teams delivered a cautious and uninspiring performance, with neither side managing a shot on target of note.
Coming off a 1-0 win over Tunisia, expectations were high for the Nigerian team, but they struggled to find creativity in the final third. Morocco, who had earlier defeated Kenya 3-2, looked more concerned with containment than risk, and the match ended in a disappointing stalemate.
Elsewhere in the group, Tunisia reignited their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Kenya, throwing the group wide open heading into the final round of matches. Nigeria will now face Kenya in their last group fixture, where only a win will guarantee them a spot in the knockout stage.
Editorial
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from Nigeria’s goalless draw with Morocco, it’s that possession and potential mean little without purpose. The Flying Eagles lacked urgency, incision, and bite in a game that demanded boldness. With a semi-final place potentially on the line, Nigeria now finds itself needing a must-win performance to avoid an early exit.
Caution may be wise in tournament football, but it cannot be mistaken for passivity. This team has talent of that there is no doubt but talent without execution rarely yields results. Against Kenya, the Flying Eagles must throw off the shackles, rediscover their attacking rhythm, and prove they are contenders, not just participants.
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The next 90 minutes will tell us everything we need to know about the mettle of this generation.
Did You Know?
- Nigeria has only failed to make it past the group stage of the U-20 AFCON twice in the competition’s history.
- The Flying Eagles’ last U-20 AFCON title came in 2015, under coach Manu Garba.
- Morocco’s U-20 side has not won the tournament before but has reached the final once, in 2005.
- The U-20 AFCON also serves as a qualifier for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, with the top four teams earning spots.
- Nigeria’s Auwal Ibrahim, who scored the winner against Tunisia, is being scouted by clubs in Belgium and Denmark.
