FIFA U-20 World Cup: Nigeria Battle Italy
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will today (Wednesday) take their Italian counterparts in the second Group D match at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup tournament in Argentina.
With the round of 16 ticket up for grabs early, the encounter presents an opportunity for the Nigerian lads to further prove their mettle in the competition.
They are coming into this game on the back of a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Dominican Republic in their opening group match on Sunday.
Scheduled for the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, Provincia de Mendoza, the match will kickoff at 7:00 pm (Nigerian time)
In this highly anticipated matchday two, both countries are on three points apiece with Nigeria making their 13th appearance at the tournament in which they reached the finals in 1989 and 2005.
On their part, the Italians, nick-named ‘Gli Azzurrini’, are featuring for the eighth time, with their best outing being a third-place finish in 2017.
For the records, both teams have met only once in the history of this global youth championship, with the Europeans prevailing 2-0 victory at Chile 1987. That victory secured their place at the top of Group B and sent Nigeria home early.
This night, the Flying Eagles will be hoping to build on the success of their opening match against Dominican Republic. Showing resilience after falling behind from the penalty spot, the Nigerians even matters through an own goal and eventually triumphed with Samson Lawal’s clinical finish.
But the Flying Eagles will be confronting an Italian team that made an emphatic statement with their shocker for five-time winners Brazil in a five goals thriller.
The Group D opener for both sides had the Europeans dominating the first half and racing to a three-goal lead before withstanding a spirited fightback from the South American giants
Clearly, this impressive performance highlights the Italians’ attacking prowess and determination which the Coach Ladan Bosso boys must watch out for this evening.
