Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has expressed delight at his team\u2019s growing confidence following his team\u2019s victory over Egypt, Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n A morale-boosting 2-1 victory over host nation Egypt in a pre-tournament friendly at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday has set up Zubairu\u2019s troops ahead of their first group game.<\/p>\n The friendly win comes just 48 hours after the Nigerian U-20 squad landed in the Egyptian capital, and Zubairu believes the result offers the perfect boost ahead of their U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening match against Tunisia.<\/p>\n \u201cThat result has provided a good impetus for us as we prepare to face the Tunisians \u2013 another North African opposition,\u201d Zubairu said. \u201cYou need a result like that when you\u2019re preparing for a competition like this. It does not mean that we will rest on our oars; it only serves to give us much-needed confidence and ginger us to face our challenges better.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Nigeria, seven-time U-20 African champions and two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup runners-up, are placed in a tough group that includes Tunisia, Morocco, and Kenya. But Zubairu remains optimistic about their chances.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will go for the maximum points against the Tunisians and then take it one step at a time as we forge ahead,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Flying Eagles are scheduled to kick off their U-20 AFCON campaign on Thursday, May 1, in Cairo, as they aim to secure one of four continental tickets to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nGet Our Sports News First\u2014Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!<\/a><\/h4>\n
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