Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a narrow but hard-fought 1–0 victory over Tunisia on Thursday at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.
The game kicked off with both sides testing each other’s defenses, with Tunisia nearly drawing first blood through close attempts by Khalil Ayari and Omar Ben Ali. However, Nigeria quickly settled into rhythm, with star forward Kparobo Arierhi coming close to scoring within the first minute of play.
The breakthrough came in the 38th minute when Auwal Ibrahim capitalized on a sublime assist from left-back Emmanuel Okoro, calmly slotting the ball past Tunisian goalkeeper Thomas Zouaghi to give Nigeria a deserved lead.
READ ALSO: Flying Eagles coach slams early ouster from All African Games
Despite Tunisia’s dominance in the second half, the Nigerian backline held firm, repelling wave after wave of attacks. Tensions rose in the 71st minute when the Flying Eagles were awarded a penalty after substitute Rickson Mendos was brought down in the box. However, the decision was reversed after a VAR review.
Head coach Aliyu Zubairu praised his side’s discipline and composure, noting that the narrow win sets a strong tone for the tournament.
The Flying Eagles will face Morocco in their second group match on Sunday, as they aim to build momentum and secure early qualification for the knockout stage.
Crediblenewsng.com
