Flying Eagles eye U-20 AFCON quarterfinal berth against Morocco

Nigeria Football Federation Media

The stage is set in Cairo as Nigeria's Flying Eagles prepare to soar into the quarterfinals of the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, facing off against Morocco on Sunday.

The crucial Group B clash will unfold at the June 30 Air Defence Stadium, promising an intense battle for supremacy.

Nigeria began their quest for continental glory with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tunisia on Thursday. The lone but decisive goal came courtesy of Akwa United's midfield maestro, Auwal Ibrahim, who struck seven minutes before the halftime whistle, sending waves of optimism through the Nigerian camp.

Meanwhile, Morocco also tasted victory in their opening fixture, staging a spirited comeback to edge out Kenya in a thrilling 3-2 encounter, setting the scene for a compelling showdown against the Flying Eagles.

The last time these two nations locked horns at this level was in the semi-finals of the 2005 tournament. That memorable clash ended in a pulsating 2-2 draw, with Nigeria ultimately prevailing 5-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout.

As Nigeria approaches their 99th match in the U-20 AFCON, they will be aiming to secure their 57th victory, a testament to their enduring legacy in African youth football. Furthermore, the Flying Eagles boast an impressive record in their recent second group games, remaining unbeaten in their last four (winning three and drawing one) since a narrow 1-0 loss to Cameroon back in 2011.

Morocco are also unbeaten in their last seven group-stage matches at the finals (winning 5 and drawing 2).