By Oluwamayowa Fakande
Captain of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, Daniel Bameyi, says the team is fired up for revenge as they prepare to battle Senegal in a crucial quarter-final showdown at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations today.
The match, set to take place at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, reignites a rivalry that saw Nigeria lose 1–0 to the Senegalese two years ago in Egypt.
This time, the stakes are higher — a win secures a spot at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
Bameyi, the only squad member with U-20 World Cup experience, said the bitter memory of that defeat still lingers.
“I can’t forget that game. We lost narrowly and it still hurts. This is more than just a quarter-final — it is our final,” he declared during a press conference.
He stressed that the team’s ultimate goal is qualification for the World Cup. “We are playing the defending champions. It will be tough, but we must win. We are hungry for the World Cup. Everyone here wants it badly.”
The clash promises fireworks, with both teams gunning not just for progression but for pride. For Nigeria, it is also personal.
