June 04, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s dreams of advancing in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup were dashed, as the Flying Eagles suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to South Korea in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
The match, held at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, saw the two teams locked in a goalless draw during regular time. However, it was Korea Republic who managed to find the back of the net in the first half of extra time, clinching the decisive victory that sent Nigeria packing from the tournament.
Throughout the first half, both teams approached the game cautiously, displaying a defensive mindset to avoid conceding an early goal. While Nigeria appeared slightly superior in terms of possession and attacking prowess, they struggled to truly test their opponents’ goalkeeper, mustering only one shot on target.
As the game progressed into the second half and extra time, South Korea’s defensive organisation continued to frustrate the Flying Eagles, leaving limited opportunities for clear-cut chances. In the first half of extra time, Choi Seok-Hyun headed in from a corner kick and Nigeria found themselves thwarted by the resolute Korean defense in their search for an equaliser.
The Flying Eagles fought relentlessly, pouring all their energy into the offensive maneuvers, but failed to breach the solid wall standing in their way. In the dying moments of the match, Emmanuel Umeh had two golden opportunities to level the score but was unable to convert, sealing Nigeria’s fate and marking another quarter-final exit for the team in the U20 World Cup.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
