End Of The Road For Nigeria's Flying Eagles, After A 1-0 Defeat To South Korea At The Ongoing U-20 World Cup.

 Nigeria have been eliminated from this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup, following a 1-0 defeat to South Korea at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades on Sunday.

This is the third meeting between both countries at this level.

While the South Koreans defeated Nigeria 2-1 in their first meeting in Netherlands 2005 though Nigeria eventually picked up a silver medal at that tournament.

The Flying Eagles got their revenge winning 1-0 at the 2013 edition in Turkey.

Both Nigeria and Korea have enjoyed a phenomenal run in Argentina, as only a few pundits gave the two countries the chance to make it to the last eight.

The Asians set up a date with seven-time African champions, Nigeria, after they overcame better-rated Ecuador 3-2 in their Round of 16 tie late on Thursday night, while the Flying Eagles surprisingly handed a 2-0 shock defeat to host nation Argentina.

READ MORE: Israel STUNS Favorite Brazil 3-2 And Advance To The Semi-final Of The U-20 World Cup in Argentina.

The Flying Eagles Head Coach Ladan Bosso makes one change from the starting XI for the round of 16 win over tournament hosts Argentina.

AC Milan U-19 midfielder Victor Eletu replaces Samson Lawal who drops to the bench for the first time at the U-20 World Cup.

NIGERIA STARTING XI: Aniagboso, Bameyi, Frederick, Ogwuche, Agbalaka, Daga, Nnadi, Eletu, Muhammad, Salem Fago, Jude Sunday.

SOUTH KOREA STARTING XI: Kim, Park, Seok-hyun, Kim, Bae, Lee, Kang, Kim, Lee, Kang, Lee.

The Flying Eagles who is Africa's last man standing at the FIFA U20WC, dominated play and created the better chances, but failed to score in over 120 minutes of the encounter.

However, the few chances the Koreans had were more threatening and their persistence and were rewarded in five minutes into the first period of extra time.

The stubborn Korean side grabbed the winner in the 95th minute through Choi Seok-Hyun, met a corner kick with a glancing superb header, and Nigeria goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso was in no man’s land.  

Nigeria failed to find a response afterwards, and the winner goal brings to an end the Flying Eagles journey at the tournament.

The two-time runners up, fail to progress to the semi final yet again, since losing in the final to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Netherlands 2005.

This would be the fourth time Nigeria will be crashing out of the quarter finals in history having crashed out in this stage in 1999, 2007 and 2011.

Coach Bosso had also led the Flying Eagles in Canada 2007 to the quarterfinal stage, where they lost 4-0 to Chile in Montreal, also after extra time.

Nigeria were the only African team still standing in Argentina, as African champions Senegal were eliminated in the group stage while Tunisia and Gambia lost their respective round of 16 matches against Brazil and Uruguay, respectively.

The Flying Eagles are set to return to the country on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, South Korea, making their 15th appearance, would hope to surpass their 2019 record where they finish as runners-up.

They will now face Italy in the semi-finals of the competition on Thursday June 8.