Argentina delivered a footballing lesson to Nigeria’s Flying Eagles on Wednesday night, October 8, 2025, cruising to a 4–0 win that ended the Nigerians’ FIFA U20 World Cup campaign in brutal fashion. The Round of 16 clash, staged at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile, was one-sided from start to finish as the South Americans showcased the dominance that has made them serial champions at youth level.
Nigeria entered the game with cautious optimism after squeezing through the group stage, but that confidence evaporated within minutes. Alejo Sarco struck just two minutes in, converting a clever pass from Dylan Gorosito to give Argentina an early lead. From that point, the Flying Eagles never found their footing. Their midfield looked disjointed, their defense jittery, and their attack lifeless. Maher Carrizo punished them further in the 23rd minute with a tidy finish, doubling the lead and putting Argentina firmly in control by halftime.
The second half brought no relief. Carrizo grabbed his second of the night in the 53rd minute, finishing off another smooth Argentine build-up orchestrated by Milton Delgado. When substitute Mateo Silvetti added a fourth in the 66th minute, assisted by Gianluca Prestianni, the contest was long over. Nigeria chased shadows for most of the game, unable to match Argentina’s tempo or tactical discipline.
This heavy defeat exposed the same weaknesses that had haunted the Flying Eagles throughout the tournament. They opened their campaign with a 2–1 loss to Norway, recovered with a thrilling 3–2 win over Saudi Arabia, and scraped a 1–1 draw with Colombia to qualify for the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams. But against a ruthless Argentine side boasting six U20 World Cup titles, Nigeria looked outclassed and out of their depth.
For a team once feared in youth football, this elimination will hurt deeply. The Flying Eagles lacked composure in midfield, conviction in front of goal, and organization at the back. Their energy faded as Argentina’s precision and confidence grew.
As the South Americans march toward another possible title, Nigeria return home with nothing but hard lessons — lessons about structure, mentality, and the quality gap that must be bridged if they ever hope to reclaim their place among the world’s best.
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