Argentina beat Flying Eagles, halt World Cup campaign

‎Boluwatife Kehinde
‎
‎Nigeria’s Flying Eagles journey at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile 2025 ended in heartbreak as they suffered a resounding 4–0 defeat at the hands of Argentina in the round of 16.
‎
‎The South American team demonstrated their dominance with a display characterized by ruthless efficiency, scoring twice in each half to secure their place in the quarter-finals. Throughout the match, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles struggled to keep pace with the relentless intensity and tactical prowess exhibited by Diego Placente’s side.
‎
‎The match commenced with a shocking start for Nigeria. In just the second minute, Alejo Sarco opened the scoring for Argentina, deftly sliding the ball into the net from close range after a well-placed cross from teammate Dylan Gorosito left Nigerian goalkeeper Ebenezar Harcourt helpless. This early setback unsettled Aliyu Zubairu’s squad, already struggling to contend with Argentina’s aggressive pressing and swift movement on the pitch.
‎
‎Midway through the first half, Argentina doubled their lead with a stunning effort from Maher Carrizo. The Argentine midfielder executed a curling free-kick from just outside the penalty area that nestled into the bottom-right corner of the net, leaving Harcourt with no chance to intervene. This goal further emphasized the challenge facing the Flying Eagles, who found themselves increasingly overwhelmed.
‎
‎Despite being on the back foot for much of the first half, Nigeria came close to reducing the deficit just before the interval. A moment of brilliance from Daniel Daga allowed him to chest down a loose ball in the box and volley towards goal. However, his effort was brilliantly saved by Argentine goalkeeper Santino Barbi, who displayed quick reflexes to deny the breakthrough.
‎
‎As the second half began, Argentina resumed their dominant display with unwavering composure and fluid attacking transitions. Their relentless pressing led to more mistakes from Nigeria’s midfield, and in the 53rd minute, Milton Delgado capitalized on a miscue by Daga. Delgado seized the ball at midfield and expertly threaded a pass to Carrizo, who effortlessly slotted it past Harcourt for his second goal of the night, marking Argentina’s third.
‎
‎The Flying Eagles‘ defensive vulnerabilities were further exposed thirteen minutes later when Mateo Silvetti latched onto a crossfield pass. He skillfully outpaced Daniel Bameyi on the right flank and executed a precise curling finish beyond Harcourt into the far corner of the net, sealing Argentina’s emphatic victory at 4–0.
‎
‎In a desperate attempt to turn the tide, Zubairu made several substitutions, bringing on players like Abduljelil Kamaldeen, Auwal Ibrahim, and Charles Agada. However, Nigeria struggled to find their rhythm or any incisive edge in their attacking play. Their best scoring opportunities arrived late in the match through Kparobo Arierhi and Haruna Aliyu, but both failed to convert from promising positions, much to the frustration of their supporters.
‎
‎In the closing stages, Argentina showcased their experience and maturity, expertly managing the game by controlling possession and dictating the tempo. Their dominance was evident in the statistics, as they registered more shots on target and completed nearly double the number of passes compared to their Nigerian opponents.
‎
‎Nigeria’s frustration mounted during the match, highlighted by moments of indiscipline resulting in yellow cards for Nasiru Salihu and Emmanuel Ekele in the second half. A glimmer of hope emerged when the VAR was consulted for a potential penalty for the Flying Eagles in the first half, but the referee ultimately dismissed the appeals after reviewing the incident.
‎
‎Despite showing flashes of potential through the likes of Daga and Maigana, Nigeria’s lack of cohesion and critical defensive lapses proved detrimental to their overall performance. This defeat starkly underscored the gap between Nigeria and the tournament’s elite teams, a sobering reality for a squad that had triumphed over the same Argentine side just two years earlier in the 2023 edition of the tournament.
‎
‎As Argentina gears up to face Mexico in the quarter-finals, looking to extend their impressive record at this level, Nigeria’s elimination adds another chapter of disappointment in their relentless quest for a maiden U-20 world title.