Nigeria has been eliminated from the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, after conceding a goal in the early minutes of extra time to South Korea during a quarter-final match held at the Santiago Del Estero stadium. The Flying Eagles had superior possession and dominated most areas of the game, except for South Korea's penalty box where the Asian team displayed a well-organized defense.
During the first half, Korea did not register a single shot attempt until stoppage time, while Nigeria attempted seven shots and controlled the majority of possession. Victor Eletu and Salim Lawal made persistent efforts to breach Korea's defense in the opening 45 minutes. Nigeria maintained their dominance in the second half and effectively countered Korea's attacking attempts.
After the regulation 90 minutes, the score remained goalless, with Korea failing to register any shot on target. However, five minutes into extra time, Korea managed to break the deadlock. Captain Lee Seung-won delivered a corner kick that was skillfully headed into the net by Choi Seok-Hyun, leaving Nigeria's goalkeeper Kingsley Aniagboso helpless. This goal marked Korea's first shot on target throughout the entire match.
Despite Nigeria's attempts to mount a comeback, Korea's defense remained resilient, securing their spot in the semi-finals. Nigeria had a total of 22 shots compared to Korea's four, demonstrating their offensive prowess. However, it was Korea who had the advantage in the only category that truly mattered: goals.
Coached by Kim Eun-Jung, Korea will now face Italy in the semi-finals at La Plata Stadium in La Plata, eastern Argentina. The match is scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. local time on June 8, or 6 a.m. Friday, June 9 in Korea. Having finished as the runners-up in the previous U-20 World Cup in 2019, Korea aims to claim their first FIFA title in a men's tournament. Notably, South Korea has previously won the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup title in 2010.
