With Nigeria’s U20 side, the Flying Eagles, gearing up for their opening fixture in the U20 Africa Cup of Nations against Tunisia, head coach Aliyu Zubairu has made it clear that his team is under no pressure, despite the history between the two sides.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference in Egypt, Zubairu dismissed any suggestion that past results, including Nigeria’s whiplashing Tunisia 4-0 win in a previous third-place clash at the last U20 AFCON.
“There is no pressure from any angle. That should serve as a motivation,” the coach affirmed.
“We do not dwell on the past as it is. We beat them 4-0 in the third place. Two different sets of teams, although representing the same country. I don’t see it as pressure. Streaks can always serve as motivation, not pressure.”
The seven-time African champions begin their campaign by 4pm on Thursday, May 1, at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.
Images by Kennedy Ugbodaga for Platinum News