Talca: Flying Eagles Head Coach, Aliyu Zubair, has blamed missed chances for Nigeria’s 1-0 loss to Norway in their opening match of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Group A match was played at Estadio Fiscal de Talca. Zubair, however, praised his players’ determination and team spirit despite the narrow defeat. He acknowledged that the team created many opportunities from the start but could not capitalize, with efforts repeatedly hitting the bar.
Nigeria dominated possession and created multiple opportunities but failed to convert, as Norway’s defense held firm under pressure. Zubair commented on the unpredictable nature of football, emphasizing that possession does not win matches. He noted that if one of the chances had been successful, the outcome might have been different.
Zubair stated that the team would now focus on their next game against Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the need to secure three points to keep their tournament hopes alive. Nigeria is set to play Saudi Arabia in a must-win Group F match to revive their chances of advancing from the group stage.