Preview is courtesy SportMole

The only two non-European or South American nations left at the Under-20 World Cup prepare for battle in Sunday's quarter-final as South Korea Under-20s meet Nigeria Under-20s at Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades.

The Tiger of Asia edged a five-goal thriller with Ecuador 3-2 to advance to the quarters for the second time in a row, while their African counterparts stunned host nation Argentina 2-0 in the last 16.

Seeking to go one better at the Under-20 World Cup after falling short in the 2019 final against Ukraine, South Korea's bid for glory in Argentina began in solid yet unspectacular fashion, going unbeaten in their three group fixtures with Gambia, France and Honduras but only prevailing in one of them.

Kim Eun-joong's men laid down a marker early doors against Ecuador, though, as Lee Young-jun and Bae Joon-ho - who set up his compatriot's opener - made the net ripple inside the opening 20 minutes of Thursday's game, but a Justin Cuero penalty nine minutes before the break would seemingly make things interesting.

However, Choi Seok-hyeon's header restored South Korea's two-goal advantage just three minutes after the restart, and even though Sebastian Gonzalez once again reduced the deficit for Ecuador in the dying embers, it was a fruitless endeavour against the Red Devils.

Showcasing a propensity for efficient attacking and undesirable defending, South Korea have found the back of the net seven times at the 2023 Under-20 World Cup while conceding six themselves, while Nigeria unexpectedly quelled a hitherto rampant Argentina attack earlier this week.

Even with the 27,000-strong home crowd roaring them on during Wednesday's last-16 contest, Argentina had no answers to a staunch Nigeria backline, one which absorbed incessant pressure from the host nation before hitting them with two second-half sucker punches.

After surviving 61 minutes with their defence intact, Nigeria went down the other end of the field and broke the deadlock through Ibrahim Beji Muhammad, before Rilwanu Sarki made sure of the Flying Eagles' shock win with an injury-time header.

Having been put to the sword 2-0 by Brazil in their final group game, many expected Nigeria to suffer the same fate at the hands of the Argentinians - who had 66% of the ball and 26 shots on the night - but Ladan Bosso's well-drilled outfit are worthy of their first quarter-final appearance since 2011.

The Flying Eagles had suffered a trio of successive last-16 exits in 2013, 2015 and 2019 before the current edition, but their last two appearances in the quarter-finals in 2007 and 2011 both ended in defeat, and the two-time runners-up - like South Korea - are also still waiting for their maiden World Cup crown at this level.

South Korea and Nigeria are familiar foes from tournaments gone by - the Asian nation won their first battle 2-1 in the 2005 group stage before the Flying Eagles earned a slice of revenge with a 1-0 triumph in 2013 - and whichever team makes it third time lucky will be rewarded with a semi-final date versus Colombia or Italy.

https://amp.sportsmole.co.uk/football/south-korea-u20/world-cup/preview/preview-south-korea-u20s-vs-nigeria-u20s-prediction-team-news-lineups_515389.html

Good luck

First half update

From the available statistics, our boys have been dominant. We pray for luck in the 2nd half to get the goals

youngrichnigga:
First half update

From the available statistics, our boys have been dominant. We pray for luck in the 2nd half to get the goals

Where are you watching it?

peeparty:


Where are you watching it?

DStv

Full time Nigeria 0: South Korea 1

The boys were overconfident and left too much to desire in terms of killing power.......Most appeared to be playing to impress foreign scouts out and about during the competition. A very upsetting loss for me and I would have that they allowed the Argentines through from the round of 16 because they'd have done better today. No killer instinct, technically gifted but tactically bereft of ideas to break down the Koreans. Saf exit

Normal thing Ladan Bosso has never gone past Quarter final in any National Team he handled

I'm not surprised. They were lucky to beat Argentina and Italy.

I've not been impressed with the way our boys play. Pass accuracy and clear cut sharpness on the ball was lacking.

Old men forming youngsters
It will be a miracle if 2 or 3 players from this squad keeps playing in the next 5-6 years!

The game just finished!
Bye bye flying chickens

SIONKPO1:
Normal thing Ladan Bosso has never gone past Quarter final in any National Team he handled

Until we get our soccer system right in naija by appointing competent hands as coaches instead of dwelling on religion or ethnicity or emilokan,we will keep having these dreadful outings!

Bunch of stupid striking force!

The mumu coach allowed the forwards to always allow the South Koreans to settle at the back. They want to dribble, no sure pass, no shot and the coach left a very wasteful player in Sunday up front!

Heffalump:
I'm not surprised. They were lucky to beat Argentina and Italy.

I've not been impressed with the way our boys play. Pass accuracy and clear cut sharpness on the ball was lacking.

Walahi

I think we were just unlucky as the Koreans played a very defensive game but felt our boys should have done more of 1, 2 touches in around box 18 of the Koreans thereby causing more of free kicks or perhaps penalty. The Koreans can't try this with the Italians. The fluidity of the Italians in front of goal will tame the Koreans.

People have started changing mouth now that Nigeria lost. . But when we won Argentina.

bentenny:

Until we get our soccer system right in naija by appointing competent hands as coaches instead of dwelling on religion or ethnicity or emilokan,we will keep having these dreadful outings!

If NFF and FG means well for Nigerian football they should do these;
1.Ban the Showing Of EPL and other foreign leagues in Nigeria
2.The local clubs here should all be privatized and Professionally ran
3.The NFF should sack all the National Team Handlers
4.NFF should appoint Young and reputable White Technical Director
5.Our Local Coaches should go for a Refresher courses or go for attachments with Reputable coaches
6.Our Stadiums pitches l,Medical and Security should be in to date
7.Publicity

After dedicating their last victory to their new president.............

JpBiz92:
After dedicating their last victory to their new president.............

Na eye service

SIONKPO1:

If NFF and FG means well for Nigerian football they should do these;
1.Ban the Showing Of EPL and other foreign leagues in Nigeria
2.The local clubs here should all be privatized and Professionally ran
3.The NFF should sack all the National Team Handlers
4.NFF should appoint Young and reputable White Technical Director
5.Our Local Coaches should go for a Refresher courses or go for attachments with Reputable coaches
6.Our Stadiums pitches l,Medical and Security should be in to date
7.Publicity

1. That will be next to impossible and will never be a solution...First we need to clean up our soccer system which involves the NPL and the NFF by putting the right institutions in place that will bring up competent hands to propel our league and football to where it should be!

2.I total agree with this....Unfortunately,no private investor will purchase a club in Nigeria when the system running the NPL and NFF is not transparent and rotten to the core! When the system is clean,investors will purchase our Nigerian clubs!

3.Even if they do it right now,they will still hire the same incompetent handlers! Our soccer system has to be clean and it must start from the NFF!

4.Lets first clean up the NFF before we think of who to hire! For me,if we have a working system in NFF,the recruitment of coaches will be the best!

5.Until number 4 is done,the refresher course will be a wasted exercise!

6.Once we have a sanitized soccer system and all clubs have been privatized,club owners will ensure that the pitches are made in a certain way that meets international standard!

7.A proper NFF system that is properly structured with a business model will ensure that such is implemented!

JpBiz92:
After dedicating their last victory to their new president.............

A friend of mine said they were doing very well until a player dedicated his goal to the president and he knew that the flying eagles wont win their next match!

bentenny:

1. That will be next to impossible and will never be a solution...First we need to clean up our soccer system which involves the NPL and the NFF by putting the right institutions in place that will bring up competent hands to propel our league and football to where it should be!

2.I total agree with this....Unfortunately,no private investor will purchase a club in Nigeria when the system running the NPL and NFF is not transparent and rotten to the core! When the system is clean,investors will purchase our Nigerian clubs!

3.Even if they do it right now,they will still hire the same incompetent handlers! Our soccer system has to be clean and it must start from the NFF!

4.Lets first clean up the NFF before we think of who to hire! For me,if we have a working system in NFF,the recruitment of coaches will be the best!

5.Until number 4 is done,the refresher course will be a wasted exercise!

6.Once we have a sanitized soccer system and all clubs have been privatized,club owners will ensure that the pitches are made in a certain way that meets international standard!

7.A proper NFF system that is properly structured with a business model will ensure that such is implemented!

You can't clean up NFF cause there is a law guiding it's operations but rather federal Government should stop allocating funds to them but should rather build stadiums.NFF should sort it's own funds to pay it's coaches and players

SIONKPO1:

You can't clean up NFF cause there is a law guiding it's operations but rather federal Government should stop allocating funds to them but should rather build stadiums.NFF should sort it's own funds to pay it's coaches and players

Its very possible even with the laws in place!
I however agree that if the FG starves them of funds,they might likely do a self cleansing activity that will ensure that they are accountable and productive!