Aliyu Zubairu’s team started their campaign with a narrow win over Tunisia, followed by draws against Morocco and Kenya to book a spot in the knockout stage.
In the quarter-final, they edged past defending champions Senegal on penalties to book a semi-final spot and qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup, but their journey ended in Ismailia with a defeat to South Africa in the semi-finals.
Despite the wave of criticism directed at the Nigeria team for failing to overcome South Africa’s Amajita despite dominating possession, the former Enyimba, Sunshine Stars, and Kwara United coach holds a different view.
In his view, qualifying for the World Cup in Chile is the team’s biggest achievement, and he believes the players should be commended for their efforts.
"They did their best and achieved the main goal, which was qualifying for the World Cup. That’s no small task," Unuanel told Flashscore in an exclusive interview.
"Many teams and countries were competing for that slot, and they managed to reach the semi-finals, which is one of the best possible outcomes.
"What pleased me the most was the way the boys played with coordination, cohesiveness, and full determination. They showed they really wanted to succeed.
"Also, this is one of the youngest teams Nigeria has ever presented in the history of the U20 AFCON, and I give them kudos. They gave it everything they had. Believe me, I would rate their performance as perfect, which is more than just good."
Nigeria went to Egypt hoping to improve on their third-place finish from the last edition. In fact, they were favourites to win after eliminating the Junior Teranga Lions in the last eight.
When asked if the team fell short of expectations, the former Nigeria Women’s national team coach responded: "Let me tell you something. The first goal was to qualify for U20 AFCON, and we achieved that.
"We went to compete in the Africa tournament and we secured a ticket to the World Cup. That is a major achievement for a development team. We are not talking about the senior team here, but the under-20s.
"They can’t just start now and reach the top immediately; progress takes time. What I want everyone to understand is that we have earned the World Cup spot. We will return home, make the necessary adjustments, and head to the World Cup ready to compete and perform well."
Unuanel on Flying Eagles’ key problem
Notwithstanding his high rating of the youth team, Unuanel - now coaching Benin Republic elite division side Ayema D’adjarra - said the Flying Eagles’ main problem was their inability to score goals.
Nigeria U20 have scored just three goals in their five matches so far, with different players contributing. This is a new low compared to their performances in previous editions.
They failed to score in three of their five games but kept three clean sheets and conceded only two goals, matching Morocco for the best defensive record among the semi-finalists.
He added: "The main problem with the team was their inability to score. They played well together, moving smoothly from one phase to another without rushing.
"Their style wasn’t just “kick and chase,” which shows they benefited from solid coaching drills. The only issue left was scoring goals.
"You can’t blame any team for struggling to score because even the best teams in the world face that challenge. I’m sure the coach will focus on improving their attack before they head to the World Cup."
Key advice ahead of Egypt clash
Next for Nigeria is Sunday’s third-place match against the hosts, Egypt. This will be the sixth meeting between the two nations at the U20 AFCON finals since 1993.
The Flying Eagles have won three of the previous encounters, including group stage wins in 2009 and 2023, as well as the 2005 final. The North Africans’ only victory came in the 2013 semi-final with a 2-0 win, while their 2007 group stage match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Ahead of the showdown at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, coach Unuanel has some advice for the seven-time African kings.
"The only thing is that they should keep their heads," he advised.
"It’s great that they have secured their ticket to the World Cup. Now, they need to protect their reputation and make sure Egypt do not defeat them.
"Regardless of the outcome, I am not ashamed of this team. They have achieved what they set out to do.
"Let’s wait for the World Cup before judging whether the technical crew did well or not. From my perspective as a coach, I saw a team that has been properly prepared."
