Malete, Kwara State/Egypt – Dr. Ibrahim Salawu, an Associate Professor at Kwara State University and a passionate football enthusiast, has heartily congratulated Nigeria’s Flying Eagles for securing their spot in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. His commendation follows the team’s dramatic quarter-final victory over Senegal at the ongoing CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The tense encounter on Monday culminated in a captivating penalty shootout, with Nigeria triumphing 3-1 after a goalless regulation time. Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt emerged as the hero, delivering two crucial saves during the shootout to propel the Flying Eagles into the semi-finals and, more importantly, guarantee their participation in the global tournament.

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Dr. Salawu, an expert in Politics and Governance, lauded the team for clinching one of the four coveted African tickets to the World Cup. However, he stressed that qualification should not be the ultimate goal. He urged the young squad and their coaching staff to set their sights higher, aiming for victory in the semi-finals and ultimately lifting the prestigious AFCON trophy.

The University Don specifically praised the technical crew, led by Coaches Aliyu Zubair, Lukeman Ijaiya, and Caleb Esu, for their tactical acumen in overcoming a formidable Senegalese side. He described the victory against Senegal as a significant stride forward, emphasizing the need for thorough advance planning to cultivate a robust and dynamic squad capable of replicating the success of Nigeria’s U-17 team, which famously won the World Cup in Chile in 2015 under the guidance of Emmanuel Amunike.

Dr. Salawu expressed immense pride in the team’s achievement, highlighting their success in eliminating the defending champions of the U-20 AFCON. This victory also holds significance as it avenges their defeat to Senegal in the group stage of the same competition two years prior.

Nigeria has a rich history in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, with seven title wins (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, and most recently) and two runner-up finishes. With their World Cup qualification secured through this hard-fought victory over a historically challenging Senegalese team, the Flying Eagles will now turn their attention to the semi-finals of the CAF U-20 AFCON, carrying renewed confidence as they aim for their eighth continental crown and a successful campaign at the World Cup in Chile later this year.