Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will be chasing victory against Saudi Arabia on Matchday 2 of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Norway in their Group F opener on Monday.
Drawn alongside Norway, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia, the Flying Eagles face a must-win situation to keep their knockout stage hopes alive. The lone goal in their first game came from a VAR-awarded penalty early in the match, while Nigeria had two penalty appeals turned down in the second half.
The team came agonizingly close to scoring, with Kparobo Arierhi rattling the crossbar and Tahir Maigana also denied by the upright.
Head Coach Aliyu Zubair says the squad has put the disappointment behind them and is fully focused on Saudi Arabia, with all key players available for selection. However, Israel Ayuma, Daniel Daga, and Charles Agada must tread carefully, as another booking could see them suspended for the final group clash against Colombia.
Nigeria is expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, prioritizing attack, possession play, and breaking down the Saudi defense.
Report by: Praise Ekrika | Edited by: Chris Odjomah