Bjorn Johansen, the head coach of Norway’s U-20 squad, has openly acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by Nigeria’s Flying Eagles ahead of their opening match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, according to reports from Soccernet.ng.
Making their fourth appearance at the U-20 World Cup, the Norwegian team is eager to build on their recent success, having secured fifth place in last year’s Under-19 European Championship.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, under the guidance of Aliyu Zubairu, earned their spot in the tournament by clinching third place at the AFCON U-20 Championship held in Egypt earlier this year.
Stay Updated with Our Sports Coverage – Subscribe to Our WhatsApp Channel Today!
In the group stage, Nigeria finds itself in Group F, competing against Norway, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia.
Johansen’s Readiness for the Encounter with Nigeria
At 56 years old, Johansen emphasized that his squad’s preparations have been thorough and that they are fully geared up to face the Flying Eagles.
“Our training camp has gone exceptionally well. The conditions have been ideal, the players are fit, and we have implemented our strategies effectively,” the former Tromso midfielder shared on the Norwegian Football Association’s official site.
“Now, it’s about striking the right balance between enjoying ourselves and conserving energy ahead of the match.”
When asked about the Flying Eagles’ threat level, Johansen described Nigeria as a particularly challenging team to analyze due to their unpredictability.
“Nigeria stands out as one of the toughest teams to assess. Their style is very dynamic and hard to anticipate,” he explained.
“We expect a physically demanding game with intense duels and a fast-paced approach from their side.”
“If we manage to dictate the flow and impose our style, our chances of success improve significantly.”
“We’ll have to wait until the match to fully understand their tactics, but we are ready for various scenarios and confident in our preparation,” concluded the former Fredrikstad manager.
The upcoming match is scheduled to take place at Estadio Fiscal de Talca in Chile, with kickoff set for 9:00 PM WAT.