Two years ago, the Flying Eagles upset hosts Argentina to reach the quarterfinal of the U20 World Cup.
Both teams will clash again Wednesday night to determine who moves on to the quarterfinal of the 2025 edition of the tournament.
Can the Flying Eagles do the double over ‘The Little Onions” of Argentina at Pradanos, Chile, tomorrow from 8:30pm Nigerian time tomorrow?
In 2023, the Flying Eagles soared over their South American foes at San Juan before a crowd of 27,179 fans courtesy of goals by Ibrahim Muhamed scored on 61 minutes and Riliwanu Sarki in additional time.
A certain Lionel Messi clipped the wings of the Flying Eagles in the 2005 World Cup final at Utrecht, Netherlands, where he scored two penalty kicks in the 40th and 75th minutes.
Chinedu Ogbuike pulled a goal back for Nigeria in the 53rd minute, but it proved to be a scant consolation as Argentina lifted the trophy 2-1.
Argentina have made 18 appearances at the U20 World Cup and are the record champions having won the competition six times – 1979, 1995; 1997, 2001 and back to back in 2005 and 2007.
Nigeria, on the other hand, have appeared in 13 editions of the tournament and were beaten finalists in 1989 and 2005. They also finished third-best in 1985.
At Chile 2025, Argentina have scored full nine points after they won all three group matches. They have netted eight goals and let in two to top Group D.
Nigeria placed third in Group F with four points scoring four goals and conceding four.
Alejo Sarco of Argentina is also one of the leading scorers with three goals
The prize for the winners of the Flying Eagles vs Argentina clash will be a quarterfinal Saturday between the winners of the Round of 16 match involving hosts Chile and Mexico.
Chile 2025 Round of 16 fixtures
1. Chile vs Mex at Valparaiso on Tuesday at 8:30 pm.
2. Arg Vs Ngr at Santiago at 8:30 pm on Wednesday
3. Ukraine vs Spa at Valparaiso at midnight of Tuesday.
4. Col Vs South Africa at Taica at 8:30pm of Wednesday.
5. USA vs Ita at Rancagua at 8:30 pm of Thursday
6. Mar vs South Korea at Rancagua on Thursday at midnight
7. Par vs Nor at Taica at midnight of Wednesday.
8. Jap vs Fra at Santiago on Wednesday at midnight.
*All times Nigerian time.
