Nigeria’s Flying Eagles played out a 1-1 draw with hosts Chile in a friendly match on Saturday, as they fine-tune preparations for the 2025 U-20 FIFA World Cup. Ahmed Akinyele broke the deadlock for Nigeria in the 18th minute with a header from a Tahir Maigana corner.
Chile equalised in the 36th minute, restoring parity before half-time. Next up for the Flying Eagles is a friendly against Australia, scheduled for Tuesday.
In the World Cup, Nigeria will be up against Norway, Saudi Arabia, and Colombia in Group F. Their first match is on 29 September against Norway, followed by games with Saudi Arabia and Colombia.
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Editorial
We welcome the draw with Chile as a solid performance by the Flying Eagles a sign that they are stepping into the World Cup with good momentum. Scoring early through Akinyele shows ambition and sharpness, especially from set pieces. While conceding before half-time raises some concerns, this match likely served its purpose: identifying strengths and areas to correct before the main event.
What impressed us was Nigeria’s ability to impose its style early, particularly in attack. The corner set play goal demonstrates that the coaching staff have been working on specific routines, and that they can be effective under pressure. On the flip side, allowing Chile to equalise suggests there’s work to do defensively organisation, concentration, choice of marking especially in the final third of the pitch where lapses can prove costly in major tournaments.
We believe the upcoming match against Australia will be crucial. Not just for further tactical fine-tuning, but for mental toughness. Learning to respond after conceding, maintaining composure, and finishing strong are traits that separate good teams from great ones at global tournaments. More than anything, the group stage draw Norway, Saudi Arabia, Colombia—is challenging, and the Flying Eagles must approach every match with intensity and clarity.
We expect that this friendly marks the beginning of a measured, resilient campaign. If the players can carry forward the positives from Chile, address the weaknesses, and play with unity and belief, they have every chance to make a deep run in the tournament. They look ready and hungry to compete.
Did You Know?
- Ahmed Akinyele’s goal came from a corner taken by Tahir Maigana, showing how effective set-piece rehearsals can be in international friendlies.
- Chile is the host of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, meaning this friendly match also served as a home test for the organisers.
- Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will open their World Cup campaign against Norway on 29 September.
- In Nigeria’s group, they will also face Saudi Arabia and Colombia, making it a varied set of opponents by playing style and geography.
- Warm-up friendlies like this are often scheduled to expose teams to different conditions—altitude, crowd, climate and this match in Chile gives Nigeria valuable experience away from home.
