Argentina 2023: Flying Eagles boss believes cool heads will make the difference against Brazil

• Sanusi feels Flying Eagles can top Group D

By Rasheed Adewuyi

Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles, will work hard to sustain its winning mentality by taking the fight to Brazil in Saturday’s final match of Group D at the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Argentina.

Head Coach Ladan Bosso on Friday expressed confidence that his charges can turn the table against the one team that has remained the Achilles heel of the seven-time African champions at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“Yes, we acknowledge that Brazil has always been a hard nut to crack for our team at this level. We have lost a number of matches to them over the decades, but there is always a first time. We are riding on a wave of robust confidence and though we do not underrate them, we certainly do not fear them.

“We have been able to fulfil our first objective for this championship: getting to the knockout stages. We will take it one match at a time from now onwards. We don’t want to take it easy and lose against Brazil; that will not be good for our winning mentality.”

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who is with the two-time World Cup silver medallists in Argentina, stated on Friday his belief that the Flying Eagles have the capacity to win and top their Group D.

“Presently, Nigeria is the only team with six points in the group. Italy can beat Dominican Republic and also go to six points. So, with the minimum of a slight win or draw against Brazil, we will top the group. It is important to top the group and also to sustain our spirit of winning.”

The 53,000 capacity Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, close to Buenos Aires, is venue for the big clash as Brazil seek victory to be sure of a place in the last 16, while Nigeria only need a draw from the encounter to finish top of the pool.

Brazil defeated the Flying Eagles 3-0 in Nigeria’s first participation at the FIFA U-20 World Cup (then known as FIFA World Youth Championship) in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1983. The result was the only reason Nigeria, which had beaten the Soviet Union in her first match, and subsequently drew 0-0 with The Netherlands, failed to make the knockout stage.

Two years later, the Brazilians ran out 2-0 winners over Nigeria in the semi-finals, and went ahead to lift the trophy while the Flying Eagles defeated host Soviet Union on penalties to clinch the bronze medals.

In 1987, in Chile, Brazil walloped the Flying Eagles 4-0 in their opening game and the Nigerian boys never recovered from the stunning defeat.

However, both teams battled to a scoreless draw in their opening match of Group F at the 2005 finals in The Netherlands, with Nigeria finishing ahead of Brazil (silver medalists as against Brazil’s bronze) at the end of the championship.

As Italy’s Gli Azzurrini bites the dust 0-2 in Mendoza

By Ed Emeanua

Flying Eagles of Nigeria defeated Italy’s Gli Azzurrini 2-0 at the the Malvina Argentinas Stadium, Mendoza in the continuation of the FIFA U-20 World Cup championship in Argentina, Wednesday.

Nigeria’s brace of goals in the second half of the game pushed the Flying Eagles to the summit of Group D where Brazil and the Dominican Republic join to make up the Group of death.

NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau tasks Soaring Flying Eagles

By Rasheed Adewuyi

An ecstatic President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Wednesday night tasked Nigeria’s U-20 football side, the Flying Eagles, to go for all the three points on offer against Brazil in their final group game at the FIFA U20 World Cup to maintain their winning momentum.

The NFF president spoke minutes after the two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup silver medallists stunned Italy 2-0 in Mendoza to soar to the top of Group D at the ongoing global fiesta in Argentina, with a commanding performance that left the Italians and their thousands of supporters flustered and crest-fallen at the Estadio Malvinas Argentina.

Pre-game, the bookmakers all had the encounter in favor of the Italians, who overran Brazil with three goals in an emphatic first 45 minutes foray on Sunday, before the South Americans reduced the tally by two in the second period.

Against the Flying Eagles, the pacy Italians were easy contained and many simply watched on as the Nigerians dominated several sectors of the pitch, with two well-taken second half goals by Salim Fago Lawal and Jude Sunday, saying just as much for what the African flagbearers deserved on the night.

“I want you to celebrate but to quickly put this behind you and focus on the game against Brazil. Nigerians are proud of what you have achieved in qualifying for the knockout stages after only two matches. But, we must sustain the winning mentality, so we have to go for victory against the Brazilians on Saturday, Gusau said.

“Once the winning mentality is sustained, we can go all the way.”

From the very first minute, the Flying Eagles left no one in doubt that they were on the pitch for business, with Salim Fago Lawal turning and shooting inside the box, but the goalkeeper had it covered.

Italy’s Tommaso Baldanzi, who dazzled against Brazil, saw his shot fly over goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso’s sticks in the 4^th minute, and another one went far away six minutes later. Daniel Daga tried his luck at the other end, but the Italians rocked the Nigeria crossbar in the 20^th minute after a flowing move orchestrated by Baldanzi.

Daniel Bameyi and Fago Lawal then got behind the Italian defense but the first half still ended scoreless.

On resumption, Italy broke forward, but Abel Ogwuche, excellent at the heart of defense, botched their efforts, and Bameyi would again rattle goalkeeper Sebastiano Desplanches in the 48^th minute.

In the 62^nd minute, a resilient Tochukwu Nnadi fought his way through the opposition defense and after spritely rising from his fall, managed to spin a a timed-pass across to Fago Lawal, who headed the ball beautifully into the net for Nigeria’s first goal.

Italy came close in the 84^th minute with a flowing move, but substitute Daniele Montevago could not make it count. At the other end, Jude Sunday latched onto a long assist thrust from goalkeeper Aniagboso that he allowed to bounce beautifully ahead to score Nigeria’s second goal with a well-taken shot, well into added time.

Victory means the Flying Eagles have qualified for the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, ahead of their clash with Brazil in La Plata on Saturday afternoon.