Sports

FIFA U-20 World Cup: NFF Commends Flying Eagles

Published

2 years ago

June 5, 2023

The Nigeria Football Federation has commended the Flying Eagles for giving a good account of themselves at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Argentina.

After an impressive match at the tournament, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria were able to make it to the quarter-finals where they faced Korea Republic.

Two-time runners-up Nigeria dominated for large parts of the game but were eliminated from the tourney by a single goal on Sunday as the Korea Republic surged into the semi-finals for the second successive tournament.

The Flying Eagles, who eliminated hosts and six-time champions Argentina in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, created few chances despite passing the ball around the field quite well.

However, the lack of punch in the final third was the greatest undoing of the seven-time African champions.

NFF’s General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, on Monday in Abuja told NAN that the Flying Eagles gave their best at the world cup, adding that they did not disgrace the country.

“The Flying Eagles have done their very best. I can say they have not disgraced Nigeria.

“In every competition, there has to be a winner and there has to be a time when some teams will be eliminated.

“Yesterday, it wasn’t our day. The team played very well but the goals refused to come.

“So, I think we should take it in good fate and move forward.

“As I have always said, anytime we go for competitions, we go to fulfil God’s righteousness because whatever God has destined to happen will happen, you cannot change it.

“If you have looked at the game, you would know that it wasn’t our game at all.”

He said the team could have equalised towards the end of the full-time but the goal “refused to come.”

The NFF Scribe apologised to Nigerians for the failure of the team to progress to the semi-finals, stressing that the Flying Eagles gave 100 per cent.

“We want to say we are sorry to Nigerians who believed in the team that they could go all the way.

“Going by their progression and improvement from match to match, Nigerians expected us to defeat the Koreans.

“But as I said earlier, it wasn’t the wish of God. He did his wish and we were eliminated by the Koreans,” he added.

NAN

Related Topics:FIFA U20 World Cup Flying Eagles

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U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles Coach Unveils 24- Man Squad

The team is scheduled to play a series of warm-up matches in Egypt before their group opener against Tunisia on May 1.

Published

2 hours ago

April 18, 2025

OhiBaba

Head coach of the U-20 national team, Flying Eagles, Aliy Zubairu, has unveiled a 24-man squad for the upcoming U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2025 U-20 AFCON will take place from April 27 to May 18.

Zubairu named first-choice goalkeeper, Ifeanyi Harcourt, defender and captain, Daniel Bameyi, midfielder Sulaiman Alabi, and forward Kparobo Arierhi in the squad.

The squad is a blend of home-based and foreign players who have intensified training in Abuja ahead of the tournament.

Some of the top foreign-based players invited include: Emmanuel Chukwu, Precious Benjamin, all of German outfit TSG Hoffenheim and Kparobo Arierhi (Lillestrom SK, Norway).

The Flying Eagles, who are seven-time African champions and two-time FIFA Under-20 World Cup runners-up, will depart Nigeria on Sunday for Cairo in a bid to clinch an eighth continental title.

The team is scheduled to play a series of warm-up matches in Egypt before their group opener against Tunisia on May 1.

They will then face Morocco on May 4, followed by a clash against Kenya on May 7 to wrap up the group games.

Sports

Ex-Man Utd star Bastian Schweinsteiger ‘splits from wife’

It was reported that the two are frequently separated by thousands of kilometers, with Ivanovic staying in Serbia with her kids while Schweinsteiger travels the world, and while this situation persists, their relationship kept straining from all angles.

Published

2 days ago

April 16, 2025

OCHEFA

Ex-Manchester United and Bayern Munchen star, Bastien Schweinsteiger and wife Ana Ivanovic are now separated from their union.

German outlet, Blunte, reports that the couples, having married for nine years, have now being separated since two months ago.

The couple has three kids between them.

In addition, the reports says that while the couple’s last Instagram post together was in December 2024, they haven’t been spotted together for months despite getting married in Venice nine years ago.

It now remains to be seen whether both couples can eventually reconcile and work things out as the former midfielder is currently in Jakarta, Indonesia, leaving Ivanovic, a tennis ace who won the 2008 French Open, to rely on the support of her parents and brother who also live in Serbia.

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Gabon Striker Boupendza Dies After Falling from Building in China

The Gabonese international died following a fall from the 11th floor of his building in China where he was playing for Zhejiang FC,” the federation said in a statement on X.

Published

2 days ago

April 16, 2025

OhiBaba

Gabon international striker Aaron Boupendza died on Wednesday at the age of 28 when he fell from the 11th floor of a building in China, according to the National Football Federation (Fegafoot).

“The Gabonese international died following a fall from the 11th floor of his building in China where he was playing for Zhejiang FC,” the federation said in a statement on X.

“Aged 28, Boupendza leaves us with the memory of a great striker who left his mark on the CAN (Africa Cup of Nations) in Cameroon.”

“Fegafoot and the entire Gabonese football family offer their sincere condolences to his biological family,” the federation added.