Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign on a disappointing note with a 1-0 defeat to Norway in their Group F opener.

The decisive moment came early in the match when skipper Daniel Bameyi handled the ball in the box, gifting the Europeans a penalty. Norway’s captain, Rasmus Holten, made no mistake from the spot to score what turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Despite conceding early, the Flying Eagles responded with determination. They dominated possession, carved out several chances, and even rattled the woodwork on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, their finishing let them down, leaving the Nigerians without a point from their first outing.

Head coach Aliyu Zubairu praised his team’s effort but admitted frustration with the result.

“The boys played their hearts out. They did everything humanly possible to make sure we won the match,” Zubairu said.
“We created chances from the start, but unfortunately our efforts kept hitting the bar. It just felt like we weren’t lucky.”

The Flying Eagles will now look to bounce back when they face Saudi Arabia in their second group game on Thursday.