The Nigeria U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, has arrived in Santiago, Chile, for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Round of 16 match against Argentina.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the team’s arrival via a post on its X handle on Tuesday.
Under the leadership of Coach Aliyu Zubairu, the Flying Eagles are reportedly determined to make a significant run in the tournament.
Argentina, a six-time U-20 World Cup winner, has been dominating the tournament, topping their group with maximum points.
The South Americans recorded victories over Japan, Morocco, and Slovakia, showcasing their attacking prowess.
The Flying Eagles, however, are no strangers to upsetting strong opponents, having defeated Argentina 2-0 in the Round of 16 two years ago.
The Flying Eagles secured their place in the knockout stage after finishing third in Group F, earning four points from their group matches.
They held Colombia to a 1-1 draw in their final group match, with captain Daniel Bamayi converting a late penalty to rescue a point.
The team had a tough start to the tournament, losing 1-0 to Norway, but bounced back with a thrilling 3-2 win against Saudi Arabia.
The Flying Eagles will hold a crucial training session at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos on Tuesday to prepare for the high-stakes match against Argentina.
The team’s focus will be on tactical organization, recovery sessions, and set-piece routines as they aim to record an upset against one of the tournament’s strongest sides.
The match between Nigeria and Argentina is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 p.m. Nigerian time on Wednesday at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Santiago.
The Flying Eagles will be looking to replicate their 2-0 victory over Argentina in the 2023 U-20 World Cup and secure a quarterfinal spot.
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