Norway U20 coach Bjorn Johansen has admitted that his team faces a major test when they meet Nigeria’s Flying Eagles in their opening match of the FIFA U20 World Cup on Monday night at the Estadio Fiscal in Talca, Chile.
The encounter marks the first time both nations will square up at the U20 World Cup, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-intensity contest.
Johansen described Nigeria as one of the most unpredictable sides in the competition, stressing that his players must adapt quickly to withstand the pace and physical strength of the Flying Eagles.
“Nigeria is perhaps the team that has been the most difficult to analyse. They are very unpredictable,” Johansen told the Norwegian Federation’s official website on Sunday.
He added: “We know that it will be physical and that it will be hard in the duels, and that they have a high tempo in their team. If we manage to control phases and play more on our terms, the chance of us coming out of the match well increases.”
The Flying Eagles, two-time finalists at the U20 World Cup, have built a reputation for their athleticism and direct attacking style. Johansen acknowledged that this makes the Nigerians dangerous if allowed to dictate the tempo of the game.
“We are prepared for different scenarios and will have enough preparedness to handle what is coming,” he said, expressing confidence in his side’s readiness.
The former midfielder, who represented Norway at the 1989 FIFA U20 World Cup and scored in a 4-2 victory against Spain, said his players must remain focused and resilient throughout the encounter.
