Nigeria’s Flying Eagles exited the U-20 FIFA World Cup following a crushing 4-0 loss to Argentina at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pranados in Chile, according to Soccernet.ng.
Under the guidance of Aliyu Zubairu, the Nigerian squad began their Group F campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Norway. They bounced back with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Saudi Arabia and secured a crucial late equalizer against Colombia, which propelled them into the knockout stage.
However, Argentina wasted no time asserting dominance in Santiago. Alejo Sarco, a promising 19-year-old from Bayer Leverkusen, opened the scoring within the first minute after goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt rushed off his line, allowing Sarco an easy finish into an unguarded net.
Twenty minutes later, Maher Carrizo doubled Argentina’s lead with a precise free-kick that found the left corner of Harcourt’s goal. Carrizo then sealed his brace in the 53rd minute, effectively putting the match out of reach. The final blow came from Inter Miami’s Mateo Silvetti, who capitalized on a swift counterattack to notch the fourth goal just past the hour mark.
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Player Ratings: Nigeria’s Flying Eagles vs Argentina
Ebenezer Ifeanyi Harcourt (4/10)
The Sporting Lagos Academy goalkeeper endured a difficult night. His early misjudgment led directly to the opening goal, and he appeared unsettled, contributing to the second goal conceded. After those initial setbacks, Harcourt struggled to regain composure, allowing two more goals to slip past him. Overall, a challenging outing for the custodian.
Amos Ochoche (5.5/10)
Ochoche faced relentless pressure from Argentina’s attackers on the right flank. Although he attempted some skillful dribbles into the opponent’s territory, these efforts failed to create meaningful chances, and he frequently lost possession under pressure.
Akinyele Ahmed (5.6/10)
The Remo Stars defender struggled to maintain cohesion with his defensive partner, particularly during the buildup to Argentina’s first goal, where a lack of communication was glaring.
Daniel Kolocho Bameyi (6/10)
As captain, Bameyi was expected to marshal the defense, but his usual composure was missing. He appeared uneasy during critical moments and opted for conservative play rather than taking initiative, which hampered Nigeria’s defensive stability.
Odinaka Okoro (5.6/10)
Okoro was largely pinned back by Carrizo’s attacking threat, limiting his forward runs. While defensively sound on an individual level, his overall impact was muted, leading to his substitution in the 70th minute for Charles Agada.
Daniel Daga (6.3/10)
Daga’s physical approach was neutralized by the technical prowess of Argentina’s midfield trio. He was replaced by Ibrahim Auwal at the 60-minute mark in an attempt to inject fresh energy.
Israel Isaac Ayuma (6.4/10)
Similar to Daga, Ayuma struggled to impose himself on the game and maintain possession under pressure. He was substituted for Emmanuel Ekele in the 62nd minute.
Tahir Maigana (6.2/10)
Maigana’s performance was subdued, managing to create only a single opportunity from open play. Like his fellow attackers, he was effectively neutralized by Argentina’s defense throughout the match.
Orseer Achichi (6.2/10)
Operating from the left wing, Achichi found it difficult to penetrate the Argentine defense and was replaced by Azuka Alatan with 20 minutes remaining.
Kparobo Nathaniel Ariehri (5.9/10)
Ariehri’s display encapsulated Nigeria’s tournament journey-effective in buildup play but unable to make decisive contributions inside the penalty area.
Salihu Nasiru (6/10)
Nasiru struggled to find space and was limited to scavenging for loose balls, receiving minimal service to challenge Argentina’s goalkeeper Santino Barbi. He was substituted by Kamaldeen Abduljelil at the hour mark.
Impact of Substitutes
Ibrahim Auwal (5.8/10)
Brought on to spark a revival, Auwal was unable to alter the course of the match as Nigeria was already trailing by three goals.
Kamaldeen Abduljelil (5.5/10)
Abduljelil’s misplaced pass contributed to Argentina’s fourth goal. By the time he entered the field, the outcome was largely decided.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Ekele narrowly avoided a red card, and substitutes Charles Agada and Azuka Alatan failed to make a significant impact in the closing stages.
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