Coach Ladan Bosso and the Flying Eagles’ hopes of progressing beyond the quarter-final stage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time since 2005 have been dashed after the Nigerian sides lost by slender 1-0 against South Korea.
The Flying Eagles have exited at the quarter-final stage of the competition in 2013, 2015, and 2019.
Choi Seokhyun’s extra-time header earned the Asian sides a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in a tense FIFA U-20 World Cup™ knockout stage which was decided at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in the City of Santiago Del Estero, Argentina.
Nigeria had gone 545 minutes – over nine hours – without conceding against an Asian side in the competition until Choi’s goal.
The Flying Eagles got the best of the first 90 minutes, but were unable to produce any significant chances against a tenacious Korean defense.
The match went into extra time as the two sides failed to produce goals in the 90 minutes of the game.
Korea however snatched the winner In the extra time thanks to Choi Seokhyun’s cool header to end the dreams of the Nigerian team.
South Korea has scored eight goals, including spectacular triumphs over France and Ecuador and now Nigeria.
The Taegeuk Warriors will now face Italy on Thursday for a place in the final in their bid to reach the final in back-to-back editions of the competition.