The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have been knocked out of the ongoing U-20 FIFA World Cup after losing to South Korea in extra-time. The game ended 1-0 on Sunday, June 4 at the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades.
Both halves of the encounter ended goalless even though Ladan Bosso’s boys dominated for a larger percentage of the game. However the Flying Eagles lacked coordination in the final third as they failed to break down the resolute South Koreans.
Nigeria’s clearest chance of getting a goal came from AC Milan’s youngster Victor Eletu who went pass two South Korean defenders close to the edge of the box before releasing a left-footed shot towards goal but his strike was parried away by Kim Joonhong.
Seuk-Hyun Choi scored the only goal of the game in the first half of extra time as he headed the ball into the far corner of Aniagboso’s goal via a corner-kick.
With time running out and the dream of getting a chance a to win their first-ever under-20 title fading away, Nigeria had a chance to score late in the 120th minute but Ume Emmanuel missed the chance from close range.
South Korea will now face Italy in the semi-final of the tournament at the Estadio Unico Diego Armando Maradona on June 8.
The Flying Eagles have never won the FIFA U-20 World Cup, but they were runners-up at Saudi ’89 and Netherlands 2005.
