Adepoju warns against drastic changes in Flying Eagles squad for U-20 World Cup

Nigeria legend Mutiu Adepoju has warned Nigeria U-20 national team head coach Aliyu Zubairu against sweeping changes ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

The Flying Eagles booked their ticket for the global youth football tournament after reaching the last four of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. After losing narrowly to Morocco by 1-0 in the semifinals, Nigeria have a chance to pick bronze against Egypt in the third place match on Sunday.

Adepoju, a legend of the Super Eagles, agrees that there should be balance in the team but warns against drastic changes of the squad for the World Cup

“If they (the Flying Eagles) have participated and they have performed very well, why change the team? If there is any addition that is going to improve what they have, there is no problem,” Adepoju told The Telegraph.

“But changing the team totally with players that have not even been tested in the qualifiers, that is not useful to the team, I don’t think it’s right. I believe that if there is an addition, a little addition that will balance or improve on what they have on ground ahead of the World Cup, yes. But changing the team entirely with different players and others, I don’t think that will work.”

“The players that have played the AFCON, they’ve been with the coach and they’ve known themselves and they are performing very well as far as qualifying for the World Cup, so why do you have to change them?”

“Like I said, there is no need to overhaul the team. Get a few players that are going to add value to the team, then we are good to go. It’s not because somebody is playing in Europe, then you bring him to the team.”

South Africa, who eliminated Nigeria, will face Morocco in the final on Sunday to conclude the tournament.