By Akeem Busari
The Nigeria football community is agog, following the hard-earned victory of Nigeria’s U20 national team, the Flying Eagles, in Monday, 12 May, 2025, quater-finals clash against reigning champions, Senegal.
With everything to play for, particularly, the world cup ticket, the Flying Eagles, who are the champions of the WAFU U20 tournament, put in the needed grit, resilience and determination to be at the world cup. After playing out 0-0 after extra time the Coach Zubairu led boys defeated Senegal who were the defending champions of the AFCON U20, 3-1 on penalties. No small thanks to the heroics of tall and lanky goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, who saved two penalty kicks during the shootout.
Following the expected euphoria, the Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, Hajji Gafar Liameed has released a statement celebrating the remarkable feats of the team, which he described as a welcome relief and an elixir for better youth football development.
“I join all football loving Nigerians, as well as, the stakeholders and investors to congratulate our darling Flying Eagles for qualifying for the U20 world cup.
“It’s no mean feat. We’re also happy that one of the heroes of the journey so far, is a player of Lagos based NNL side Sporting Lagos. It only speaks for the unrelenting efforts of Lagos State government, the Sports Commission and of course, the LSFA, to continue to empower, develop and promote our youths, through football.
“Muchmore, on behalf of the board of LSFA and all football stakeholders, I want to congratulate the Nigeria Football Federation, led by Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, for their strong belief in the team, and of course, their tireless commitment towards making Nigeria football better,” the award-winning football administrator added.
