Nigeria’s Flying Eagles beat Italy 2-0 to qualify for the last 16 of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Italy started the game on strong ground and found Cesare Casadei through the woodwork on five minutes.
The Flying Eagles took their time to settle into the game and troubled the Italian defense with some long range efforts.
Solomon Agbalaka handled the ball inside the box 10 minutes before the box.
The left-back was lucky after the referee ruled that an Italian player had also touched the ball in the build-up after consultation with the VAR.
Goalkeeper Chizioke Anyagboso made a superb save late in the first half to deny the Italians.
Flying Eagles head coach, Ladon Bose made two changes at the start of the second half with Tochukwu Nnadi and Umeh Emmanuel replacing Samson Lawll and Ibrahim Mohammed.
The Nigerian boys took control of the game in the second half but were often frustrated with their last ball.
The breakthrough came in the 61st minute when Salim Fago nods brilliantly after being set up by Nnadi’s superb cross.
Winger Jude Sunday netted the second deep in stoppage time.
The Flying Eagles will take on Brazil in their final group game on Saturday in La Plata.
U-20 World Cup: Flying Eagles beat Italy 2-0, zoom into round of 16
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