Nigeria’s Flying Eagles advanced to the quarter-final of the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time in 12 years after beating host Argentina 2-0 at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario on Thursday.
Goals from Ibrahim Muhammad and Rilwanu Sarki in the second half secured the win for Ladan Bosso’s team.
Nigeria will next play against Ecuador or South Korea in the quarter-final of the tournament in Santiago del Estero on Sunday.
Argentina’s La Albiceleste dominated the match despite the Flying Eagle’s great start.
As the first half drew to an end with no goals, Striker Alejo Veliz missed two chances to change the board in their favor.
His glancing header went narrowly wide in the 14th minute while his second attempt before the break was saved by goalkeeper Kingsley Aniagboso.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles broke the deadlock in the 61st minute through Emmanuel Umeh when he flicked the ball over the top for Muhammad, who slotted home a low shot past goalkeeper Federico Gerth.
Argentina tried as they could to equalize, giving twenty shots at the post as against Nigeria’s nine. They came really close when Luka Romero’s low drive from a distance hit the upright of the post for Daniel Bameyi to put the ball to safety.
In additional time, substitute Victor Eletu came off the bench for Ibrahim Muhammad to give an assist to Haliru Sarki to score Nigeria’s second goal and secure a victory for Flying Eagles for the first time in the competition since 2005.
Nigeria’s win on Thursday saw an end to a run of 10 straight U-20 World Cup victories for Argentina. The young La Abliceleste had won all seven games when they hosted the tournament in 2001, and their first three at this edition.