The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have been dumped out of the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup after a 4-0 loss to Argentina in the round of 16, Soccernet.ng reports.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu and his Flying Eagles locked horns with the Albiceleste at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Chile on Wednesday night.
Going into the game, Argentina were the favourites, as they were flawless throughout the group stages. Nigeria, on the other hand, had recent hustory behind them, as they knocked out the Albiceleste in this same stage at the last edition two years ago.
However, the Flying Eagles were not prepared for what hit them. The Albiceleste dominated the game from the blast of the whistle, and looked dangerous whenever they had the ball.
It took them just two minutes to score the opener, courtesy of a strike from Alejo Sarco. After going a goal down, Nigeria started playing a bit better, but they failed to create any meaningful opportunity.
Argentina, who managed to keep the Flying Eagles at arms length, got their second goal in the 23rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu committed a foul just in front of Nigeria’s area, giving the Albiceleste a good chance. Maher Carrizo took charge of the responsibility and dispatched his set piece with aplomb to make it 2-0.
Zubairu’s lads first serious sniff at goal came in the 31st minute, when Tahir Maigana got a one-on-one opportunity with the Argentina goalie Santino Barbi. But his effort was saved.
Then, just before halftime, they got another big opportunity with Daniel Daga. He got the ball of a corner and had just the goal keeper to beat. But he failed to finish the opportunity, as the goalkeeper made a stunning maintain the scoreline.
The Flying Eagles started the second half with a lot of fire, pressing the Albiceleste back. But the Diego Placente-trained team were solid and well organized. Zubairu’s plan was to play a highline, and they paid dearly for that.
After Daga lost the ball in midfield during a build-up, Milton Delgado played a fine pass to find him running through on goal. With no one marking him, he sprinted into the box and struck a low shot into the bottom-left corner, to make it 3-0.
That goal evidently killed any zeal left in the Flying Eagles players. Then, in the 66th minute, Argentina made it 4-0, courtesy of a cold-blooded finish from Mateo Silvetti.
More to follow….