The Flying Eagles of Nigeria qualified for the FIFA under-20 World Cup quarter-final after beating hosts Argentina 0-2 on Wednesday.
Two second-half goals from Ibrahim Muhammad and Riwanu Haliru Sarkar were enough to see off the hosts and title favorites Argentina, advancing the Flying Eagles to the last eight.
The Flying Eagles began their campaign with a bang, defeating the Dominican Republic 2-1 and then Italy 2-0, before falling to Brazil 2-0 in their final group stage.
They finished third in the group level on six points with Brazil and Italy to qualify for the knockout stage as the best third-placed team in the competition.
Flying Eagles coach salutes players, Ibrahim dedicates goal to the new Nigerian president
The Flying Eagles coach, Ladan Bosso, attributed his side’s victory over Argentina, who had a 100% winning record prior to the game, to his players’ discipline and fighting spirit.
“We stuck to our game plan and we got it right; the players discipline and commitment to the strategy devised by the coaching staff paid off handsomely, resulting in a convincing victory over Argentina,” he said.
Bosso added that in the quarter-finals stage, the approach would be to go all out and win.
“The next plan is to go all out. Losing in the quarterfinals is the same thing as not qualifying. So the way we approached this game, we could also approach the quarterfinals.”
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Meanwhile, Ibrahim Muhammad, the forward who scored the first goal in the game, dedicated his goal to Nigerian newly elected president Ahmed Bola Tinubu,
“I feel so happy; I am happy to score a goal and dedicate my goal to our new president, Honourable Ahmed Tinubu, and I appreciate my teammates for their efforts,” he said in the post-match interview.
The flying Eagles will now face tonight’s winner between Ecuador or Kore Republic in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
