Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been eliminated from the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup following a heavy 4-0 defeat to Argentina in the round of 16, according to Soccernet.ng.
Under the guidance of coach Aliyu Zubairu, the Nigerian squad faced off against Argentina’s youth team at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Chile on Wednesday evening.
Argentina entered the match as clear favorites, having displayed an impeccable performance throughout the group phase. Conversely, Nigeria carried the confidence of their previous triumph over the same Argentine side at this knockout stage during the last tournament two years ago.
Despite past success, the Flying Eagles were overwhelmed from the outset. Argentina asserted control immediately, showcasing threatening attacks every time they possessed the ball.
Within just two minutes, Alejo Sarco opened the scoring for Argentina. Although Nigeria improved their play after conceding, they struggled to generate any significant scoring chances.
The Albiceleste extended their lead in the 23rd minute following a foul by Nasiru Salihu near Nigeria’s penalty area. Maher Carrizo expertly converted the resulting free kick, doubling Argentina’s advantage.
Nigeria’s first notable attempt came in the 31st minute when Tahir Maigana found himself one-on-one with Argentine goalkeeper Santino Barbi, but his shot was expertly saved.
Shortly before halftime, Daniel Daga had another golden opportunity after a corner kick, facing only the keeper. However, Barbi produced a remarkable save to keep the score at 2-0 going into the break.
The second half began with Nigeria pressing aggressively, trying to unsettle the well-drilled Argentine side coached by Diego Placente. However, Zubairu’s strategy of maintaining a high defensive line backfired.
Following a midfield turnover by Daga, Milton Delgado delivered a precise pass to a teammate making a run behind the defense. Unmarked, the attacker calmly slotted a low shot into the bottom-left corner, increasing the lead to 3-0.
This goal deflated the Nigerian squad’s momentum. In the 66th minute, Mateo Silvetti sealed Argentina’s dominance with a composed finish, making it 4-0.
Despite the heavy scoreline, Nigeria’s goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt denied Silvetti a second goal late in the game with a crucial save in the 87th minute.
Argentina advance to the quarterfinals with ease! ✈️#U20WC | #LegendsInTheMaking
– FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 8, 2025
The match concluded with a 4-0 victory for Argentina, who will now face Mexico in the quarterfinals. For Aliyu Zubairu and his Flying Eagles, their journey in this tournament has come to an end.