Zubairu Owns Blame as Flying Eagles Exit U‑20 World Cup After 4‑0 Loss

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been eliminated from the 2025 FIFA U‑20 World Cup in Chile after suffering a heavy 4–0 defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16.

Argentina struck early through Alejo Sarco in the 2nd minute, and Maher Carrizo doubled their advantage with a stunning free‑kick in the 23rd, following a foul on Nasiru Salihu near the box.  Nigeria’s appeal for a penalty after a challenge by Ramirez was dismissed.

By the 53rd minute, Carrizo had added his second, before substitute Matheus Silvetti curled home a fourth in the 66th minute to put the game beyond doubt.  A strong opportunity just before half time saw Daniel Daga denied by Argentina’s goalkeeper Santino Barbi.

Afterwards, head coach Aliyu Zubairu accepted full responsibility for Nigeria’s exit. He acknowledged flaws in planning, squad selection and execution. He also pointed to the team’s persistent finishing problems, saying “We created chances but failed to convert them.”

Zubairu committed to a thorough review of his squad ahead of future tournaments, insisting that only those who can meet the demands at this level will retain their places.

Editorial

We are pained to see the Flying Eagles’ campaign ended so unceremoniously. A 4–0 loss at this stage is not merely a defeat on paper it is a painful reflection of gaps in preparation, mental readiness, and structural support. When Argentina punished us so ruthlessly, it was not just their technique on display but our under‑preparedness.

We do not shy from criticism, but we also recognise the responsibility must be shared. The coach must select and inspire the federation must equip the technical staff must strategise the players must deliver. Yet, when one leg is weak, the whole structure crumbles. Zubairu’s decision to own the failure is commendable. He could have pointed fingers, but instead he stood firm, revealing that the blame rightly rests on leadership as much as on players.

Yet owning failure is only useful if it leads to change. Reviewing the squad is not enough if the same patterns repeat indecision in attack, lack of cutting edge in the final third, leaky concentration in defence. The core issue is not only who takes the final shot, but how the team is built to create that chance in the first place.

We believe that talent alone will not carry us. Systems matter scouting, youth development, coaching education, psychological preparation, video analysis these are not luxuries but necessities. To compete globally, Nigeria must be methodical, not chaotic.

We must demand from our institutions and from ourselves that every stage be backed by professionalism. The silver medal finishes of past U‑20 tournaments should not lull us into complacency. We must insist that the next time Nigeria meets a powerhouse, we are not outclassed, but matched  and ready.

The opening promise of the U‑20 squad was high. It is time that promise is matched by a plan, by discipline, by accountability and by a Nigeria that refuses to accept scarcity of vision.

Did You Know?

1. Nigeria has never won the FIFA U‑20 World Cup; their best finishes have been runner‑up positions.
2. Argentina entered the 2025 U‑20 tournament unbeaten in their group stage.
3. The Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago, where the match was played, is one of Chile’s iconic football venues.
4. The Flying Eagles had eliminated Argentina at the same Round of 16 stage in the 2023 edition of the tournament.
5. Massed goals in the early tournaments often foreshadow wider tactical or organisational deficits — history in youth competitions shows that blowouts tend to reflect structural problems, not just a bad day on the pitch.