Following Nigeria’s Flying Eagles’ defeat to Brazil at the ongoing 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, there have been concerns over their chances in the knockout stage.
The Flying Eagles lost 2-0 against Brazil in their last Group D FIFA U-20 World Cup fixture in La Plata on Saturday night.
They started the game against Brazil in style, passing the ball around with confidence as Jude Sunday came close to scoring the game’s opening goal in the eighth minute, but his outstanding volley hit the crossbar.
Brazil took the lead in the 43rd minute via Jean Pedroso as the Flying Eagles were caught flat footed in first-half stoppage time, with Marquinhos firing past Chijioke Aniagboso to make it 2-0 before half-time.
The South Americans were in total control of the game after the break but failed to add to their lead against Nigeria as the tally eventually ended 2-0 after 90 minutes which saw Brazil extend their record against the West Africans to five wins and one draw.
The defeat against Brazil means the Flying Eagles dropped to the third position in Group D on goal difference.
It was also the Flying Eagles’ only loss in Group D after beating the Dominican Republic and Italy in their first two games.
Ladan Bosso’s side are behind Brazil and Italy in the group standing but qualified for the U-20 World Cup Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams in the group stage.
The Flying Eagles will play either Argentina or USA in the Round of 16 billed to commence on Tuesday.
Nigeria has never won the FIFA U-20 World Cup since the inception of the tournament in 1977.
The team’s best finish is second place spots at the 1989 and 2005 editions.
They were eliminated in the Round of 16 in the last edition in 2019.
Can Ladan Bosso’s side better their performance at the 2019 edition by at least making it to the quarter-finals of the 2023 edition?
Speaking with DAILY POST, Stanley Smart, an Abuja-based sports journalist, believes the only way the Flying Eagles can progress to the last-8 is if they put in an improved performance when they face USA or Argentina in the last-16.
According to him, “football is not magic, and the Flying Eagles players will need to be clinical in front of goal to stand any chance of progressing in the competition.”
“Football is not magic. You have to prepare hard in training and implement it in the match, convert your chances in front of goal when you come up against your opponent,” Smart told DAILY POST.
“I watched the game against Brazil, I was not pleased with the boys’ display and how they conceded two goals in a space of five minutes towards the end of the first half. The fighting spirit, and the performance they put in against Italy in their previous game, I did not see it against Brazil.
“If they replicate this in their performance against Brazil in the Round of 16 when they face either the host nation Argentina or USA, I am sorry they would be coming back home the next day. [Ladan] Bosso has a lot of work to do on his players before the knockout stage, I just hope he gets it right,” he added.
Can the Flying Eagles win a maiden title?
Smart added, “They should, first of all, cross the Round of 16 hurdles and quarter-final before we can start talking about them having a chance to win the World Cup. If they can get to the semi-final, of course, there is a chance, but we should count one before jumping to count two. ”
Any message for the Flying Eagles as they prepare for the Round of 16 stage:
“They should be focused during the game, try as much as possible to create chances and also convert them. They should try to avoid mistakes, especially at the defence.
“The last-16 would not be an easy one because both the host Argentina and the USA are very strong sides. I wish Bosso’s men the best in the knockout stage,” Smart said.
DAILY POST reports that Nigeria is uniquely distinguished at the U-20 World Cup as the only African team to have won the FIFA Fair Play Trophy.
The Flying Eagles claimed this prestigious award in 2011.
