Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will be gunning for their first points at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup when they face Saudi Arabia in their second Group F match on Friday, Bold Sports reports.
The two-time runners-up opened their campaign on a disappointing note, losing 1-0 to Norway after Rasmus Holten converted an early penalty. Saudi Arabia also endured a losing start, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Colombia courtesy of Oscar Perea’s 64th-minute strike.
The results left Nigeria bottom of the group, with Saudi Arabia in third, while Colombia lead the standings ahead of Norway. With only the top two teams in each group, along with the four best third-placed sides, advancing to the round of 16, the Flying Eagles have no margin for error as they seek to revive their qualification hopes.
History favours Nigeria in this fixture. The Flying Eagles have defeated Saudi Arabia in both of their previous U-20 World Cup meetings, securing a 2-1 victory in 1989 and a 2-0 win in 2011.
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Despite that record, head coach Aliyu Zubairu’s men will need to be at their best to contain the Saudis, who are also desperate to keep their campaign alive. With attacking talents in their ranks, the Flying Eagles will be banking on quality and discipline to break down their opponents.
The match is scheduled for 12:00am Nigerian time at the Estadio Fiscal in Talca, Chile. Portuguese referee João Pedro Silva Pinheiro will officiate, with Bosnia’s Irfan Peljto serving as the fourth official.
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