2025 FIFA U20 World Cup: Nigeria midfielder Daniel Daga praises teammates, coaches after win against Saudi Arabia

Nigeria midfielder Daniel Daga was full of praise for his teammates and the coaching staff on Thursday night after their hard-fought 3-2 victory against Saudi Arabia at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

The win came as a timely response after the Flying Eagles’ opening day defeat to Norway, keeping their hopes alive for a place in the knockout stages. For Daga, who plays his club football with Norwegian side Molde FC, the result was a testament to collective effort both on and off the pitch.

“It was not about one player, it was about everybody. From the training ground to the match itself, the coaches guided us, and the players gave everything. This victory is for the team and for the country,” Daga told reporters in his post-match interview.

The midfielder admitted that the opening loss was difficult to take, but revealed that the players held a meeting afterwards where they vowed to bounce back stronger. Against Saudi Arabia, they delivered on that promise with a spirited performance.

“We knew we couldn’t afford another bad result. The focus was to fight for every ball and make sure Nigeria’s flag was flying high,” Daga noted.

Looking ahead, Daga emphasised that attention has now shifted to their decisive final group match against Colombia, which could determine their progress in the competition.

“We are not done yet. We will keep working hard because we want to make Nigeria proud,” he concluded.