Flying Eagles Edge Tunisia in a Hard-Fought Battle
Nigeria’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles , began their campaign at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations with a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory over Tunisia on Thursday, May 1. The match took place at the iconic 30 June Stadium in Cairo.
The only goal of the game came in the 38th minute through Auwal Ibrahim , who broke the deadlock to give Nigeria the lead. The Flying Eagles defended resolutely for the remainder of the match, holding on to secure all three points. This victory propelled them to second place in Group B , setting a strong foundation for their tournament aspirations.
Atlas Lions Rally to Defeat Kenya in Thrilling Encounter
Later that evening at the same venue, Morocco staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Kenya 3-2 in a thrilling encounter. The match started brightly for Kenya, with Lawrence Ouma giving the East Africans an early lead in the 16th minute .
However, Morocco’s Mohamed Zabiri turned the game around with a quickfire brace, scoring in the 45+3rd minute and again in the 55th minute to put the Atlas Lions ahead. Kenya fought back valiantly, with Hassan Beja equalizing in the 71st minute to reignite hopes of a draw.
But it was Reda Laalaoui who had the final say, scoring the decisive goal just seven minutes later in the 78th minute to seal a dramatic win for Morocco. The victory saw Zakaria Aboub’s side leapfrog Nigeria to claim the top spot in Group B on goal difference.
Thursday’s Results Recap
- Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia
- Goal: Auwal Ibrahim (38′)
- Result: Flying Eagles secure second place in Group B.
- Kenya 2-3 Morocco
- Goals: Lawrence Ouma (16′), Hassan Beja (71′) – Kenya; Mohamed Zabiri (45+3′, 55′), Reda Laalaoui (78′) – Morocco
- Result: Atlas Lions take top spot in Group B.
Key Takeaways from Matchday 1
- Nigeria’s Resilience: Despite being under pressure for much of the match, the Flying Eagles showcased discipline and tactical organization to grind out a vital win against Tunisia.
- Morocco’s Comeback Spirit: The Atlas Lions demonstrated incredible fighting spirit, overturning an early deficit to claim maximum points against a determined Kenyan side.
- Group B Dynamics: With Morocco and Nigeria both securing wins, they now set the pace in Group B, while Tunisia and Kenya will need to regroup quickly to stay competitive in the tournament.
What’s Next?
Both Nigeria and Morocco will look to build on their opening victories when they face their next opponents. Meanwhile, Tunisia and Kenya must bounce back to keep their hopes alive in the group stage.
Stay tuned for more updates as the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations unfolds, with young talents across Africa aiming to make their mark on the continental stage.
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