Argentina 2023: South Korea defeats hard fighting Nigeria after extra time

By Ed Emeanua

Flying Eagles succumbed to a lone goal defeat to South Korea U-20 side to bounce out in the quarter-finals stage of the ongoing FIFA 2023 U-20 World Cup in Argentina.

Seok-Hyun Choi flicked-in his header from a corner kick feed to open the scoring for Korea in the 95th minute of the game after full time had ended on a stalemate.

Nigeria fought back gamely but poor finishing continued to be their bane just as it proved to be all through the first and second half of a match that Flying Eagles clearly dominated.

The Koreans retired for the end of the first stanza of extra time holding on to their lead. The second half of extra time commenced with the Nigerians again looking for the leveler.

XI Nigeria

XI South Korea

South Korea substitutes

Argentina 2023: NFF boss urges focus and discipline against Taegeuk Warriors

By Rasheed Adewuyi

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has again implored Nigeria’s U-20 football side to be focused and disciplined as they go all out for a semi-final ticket against South Korea in the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Argentina.

The NFF President made the plea during a video conversation with players and officials of the team on Saturday.

Gusau also commended the team for their resilience and victory against host–nation Argentina in the Round of 16 tie on Wednesday and urged them to put up even a stronger performance against the nifty Asians on Sunday.

“Gentlemen, I want to use this medium to commend and congratulate you for the hard–fought win against Argentina. What you demonstrated was the true Nigeria spirit and I urge you to replicate the same against South Korea tomorrow, ” he said.

“The game tomorrow is crucial and I believe you can do it for yourselves, your families and above all our dear nation, Nigeria. Nigerians are happy with your performance over there and are solidly behind you.”

The Flying Eagles will be gunning for a semi–final ticket at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals for the first time since 2005, when they go up against the South Koreans on Sunday at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in the City of Santiago Del Estero.

The game starts at 2.30pm Argentina time (6.30pm Nigeria time).

On Saturday evening, Israel held on valiantly to eliminate five-time champions Brazil 3-2 after extra time, to become the first team to reach the last four.

Argentina 2023: Bosso Ladan wards battle ready for Korea Republic duel

By Rasheed Adewuyi

Nigeria’s inspired U-20 boys have flown into the northern Argentine city of Santiago del Estero ahead of Sunday’s FIFA U-20 World Cup quarter-final clash with their counterparts from Korea Republic and are battle ready.

The Koreans on their part edged hard-fighting Ecuador 3-2 on Thursday, in the Round of 16 encounter, to set up a much-anticipated last-eight tango with the two-time silver medallists.

Seven-time African champions Nigeria have surged on the bookmakers’ ratings and are now regarded as favourites following Wednesday night’s commanding defeat of hosts, and six-time champions Argentina in their Round of 16 encounter in San Juan.

Isah Ladan Bosso, who was also head coach when the Flying Eagles reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada 16 years ago, told thenff.com on Thursday that his team has kept to the pre-tournament philosophy of dealing with one match at a time.

“We are delighted to have executed a perfect game plan against Argentina. Our strategy and tactics worked out and the boys worked very hard,” he said.

“Now, we have to concentrate on what to expect from the Koreans. We have been watching their games at this championship and we have a good idea how to prepare for them.

“Again, the boys must work hard and carry out our plan on match day. We have the playing personnel to do the job and I am positive we will cross the Korean hurdle.”

In 2007 in Canada, Bosso’s wards defeated Costa Rica and Scotland and drew with Japan to reach the Round of 16, where they edged fellow Africans Zambia 2-1 in Ottawa to set up a quarter-final date with Chile in Montreal.

That team, captained by Nduka Ozokwo, stood up to the Chileans for 90 minutes but collapsed in extra time under the covered arena of the Montreal Olympic Stadium. Bosso says he is aware of the quarter-final banana peel and will not stumble this time.

Bosso added: “It is a new day, a new championship, a new city and a new team. Nigeria has been in the final of this same competition on two previous occasions. Our objective is to at least match that feat. Once we’re in the final, anything can happen.”

Sunday’s quarter-final battle with the Koreans is scheduled for the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero, from 6.30pm Nigeria time.    

Argentina 2023: Happy to score his first goal world cup goal against host nation, Argentina

By Rasheed Adewuyi 

Argentina 2023: Flying Eagles 2-0 Los Cebollitas (Little Onions) 

Click Link below to watch the full match

Full-length Replay: 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup – Argentina vs. Nigeria

By Rasheed Adewuyi

Nigeria eliminated host nation Argentina as goals from Ibrahim Muhammad and Rilwanu Haliru Sarki sent the six-time champions out of the FIFA U20 World Cup at the Round of 16 on Wednesday.

On an incredible night in western Argentina, the Flying Eagles pulled out every trick in the book to defend in numbers and then score two goals on quick counter-attacks that had the Albiceleste Sub-20, who had won all their three matches in the group phase, flummoxed and dumbstruck as they crashed out of the tournament.

Head Coach Ladan Bosso had promised that his boys would give as much as they got, and they did just that and even more with clear intent from the 9^th minute when a snapshot by Ibrahim Muhammad on the edge of the box went narrowly off.

There were even exchanges afterwards and the Argies came close with a header in the 39^th minute, but the Flying Eagles returned with more stamina and guile in the second half and completely astounded the hosts in front of nearly 30,000 fans in San Juan.

Goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso had saved from Barco in the 51^st minute and Jude Sunday’s shot was held by the opposition goalie, before the two-time silver medallists struck the underside of the bar with an intelligent shot from the edge of the box by Tochukwu Nnadi in the 58^th minute.

The hosts escaped there, but would not be that lucky three minutes later, when from a long Aniagboso ball out, substitute Emmanuel Umeh found an onrushing Muhammad who stretched beyond the attention of two defenders and slotted beyond the advancing goalkeeper into the net.

Two minutes later, Umeh could have turned goalscorer when he ran powerfully down the left and planted himself in a good position, but dragged his shot a little too wide.

Carboni saw his shot held by the calm and collected Aniagboso and then headed wide, before Umeh again came close only to be foiled with the goalkeeper beaten.

The nifty Romero hit the upright with a deceptive shot in the 83^rd minute, and Abel Ogwuche cleared the ball as two Argies were set to pull the trigger in the 85^th minute with things becoming really anxious.

Javier Mascherano’s boys poured forward in search of the equalizer, and were then open to a sucker punch. AC Milan of Italy’s Victor Eletu showed tenacity and grit to hold on to another long Aniagboso ball out of defense, and then lifted for Haliru Sarki to nod into the net with aplomb for Nigeria’s second with one minute into added time.

…and coach Javier Mascherano bows his head in defeat

The victory somewhat atoned for Argentina’s 2-1 defeat of Nigeria in the final of the 2005 edition of the competition in The Netherlands, when Lionel Messi scored twice from the penalty spot to deny the African champions.

Victory took the Flying Eagles to the quarter-finals, where they meet the winner of the Ecuador/South Korea Round of 16 duel to be decided on Thursday.