Nigeria’s Flying Eagles and their Argentine counterparts are set to light up the global football stage once again as the Round of 16 in this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals kicks off in Chile on Wednesday evening.
Both nations have engaged in memorable encounters at the FIFA World Cup, FIFA U20 World Cup, and the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, with the most recent being Nigeria’s stunning 2-0 victory over the Albiceleste in a Round of 16 match during the FIFA U20 World Cup held in Argentina two years ago.
Ibrahim Muhammad and Haliru Sarki scored the goals that shocked the hosts and defied the predictions of many pundits, propelling the Flying Eagles into the quarter-finals, where they eventually lost in extra time to the Republic of Korea.
Two decades ago, the Flying Eagles narrowly fell to Argentina in the FIFA U20 World Cup Final in the Netherlands, with both Argentine goals coming from penalties converted by Lionel Messi, while Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi netted a spectacular goal for Nigeria.
Argentina has won the FIFA U20 World Cup six times, while Nigeria has claimed silver medals twice (1989 and 2005) and bronze once (1985). However, the African side will not be burdened by any inferiority complex when they take to the pitch at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago on Wednesday night. The victor will advance to the quarter-finals of the prestigious tournament in Chile.
Self-belief, purpose, pride, and resilience carried Aliyu Zubair’s team through the group stage, accumulating four points against Saudi Arabia and Colombia. The Colombians will likely remember how the West Africans dominated a match they were expected to win comfortably.
On three occasions, the Flying Eagles hit the crossbar in their encounter at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca, ultimately earning a deserved point when captain Daniel Bameyi calmly converted a penalty kick awarded in desperation by the South Americans as the relentless Nigerian attack surged forward.
Coach Zubair will need to select a new player to partner with Tahir Maigana and Kparobo Arierhi in attack, as Suleman Sani is suspended after receiving two yellow cards in the group stage.
The Flying Eagles arrived in Santiago from Talca on Monday evening and will hold a training session on Tuesday evening in preparation for their clash against Argentina.
