Santiago Del Estero, Argentina – In a heartbreaking quarter-final match on Sunday, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles were defeated 1-0 by South Korea, dashing their hopes of winning their first-ever U-20 World Cup.
The Asians secured victory with an extra-time goal by Choi Seok-hyeon, propelling them into the semi-finals where they will face European champions, Italy.
The Flying Eagles, led by coach Ladan Bosso, made a single change to the lineup from their previous win against hosts Argentina. Victor Eletu replaced Samson Lawal, who had provided an assist in the previous match. Nigeria started the game strongly, nearly finding the opening goal just two minutes into the match.
Daniel Bameyi displayed excellent dribbling skills, evading two opponents before delivering a well-placed cross into the Korean area. However, the intended target, Ibrahim Muhammad, was denied as the Asian defenders cleared the ball to safety. Nigeria continued their dominance, and in the eighth minute, Abel Ogwueche came close to breaking the deadlock with a header from a corner-kick, only to be denied by goalkeeper Kim Jun-hong.
Throughout the match, the Flying Eagles maintained their control, successfully containing South Korea’s pace and skill. However, as the second half began, Korean head coach Kim Eun-jung introduced Bae Jun-ho, adding more attacking threat to his team. Despite the change, Nigeria remained the team most likely to score, with captain Bameyi forcing a fine save from Jun-hong with a powerful long-range shot.
After an hour of play, South Korea began to pose a greater danger and had their first shot of the game, as Lee Seung-joon’s curling effort narrowly missed the target, beating Nigerian goalkeeper Kingsley Aniagboso. In response, Bosso made two quick substitutions, introducing Umeh Emmanuel and Kehinde Ibrahim for Fago Lawal and Muhammad, respectively.
In the 86th minute, Bameyi had an opportunity to secure a late winner for Nigeria, dispossessing Park Hyun-bin on the edge of the box. Unfortunately, his subsequent shot drifted wide, leading the game into extra time. Just four minutes into the added period, South Korea broke the deadlock with their first shot on target. Lee Young-jun’s corner-kick was expertly headed in by Choi Seok-hyeon, giving his team the crucial lead.
With only 10 minutes remaining, Emmanuel squandered a glorious chance to equalize for Nigeria, volleying his shot high above the posts from inside the box. The South Koreans managed to hold onto their slender lead, securing a spot in the semi-finals where they will face Italy on Thursday.
Despite the disappointment, the Flying Eagles displayed great skill and determination throughout the tournament, showcasing their potential for future success.
