The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have crashed out of the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup after a heavy 4–0 defeat to Argentina in the round of 16. The highly anticipated clash took place at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Chile on Wednesday night, but it turned into a nightmare for Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s side.
Argentina came into the encounter as overwhelming favourites, having sailed through the group stages with a perfect record. Nigeria, however, carried some history of their own, as they famously eliminated the Albiceleste at the same stage of the competition just two years ago. This raised hopes among fans that the Flying Eagles could pull off another upset.
But the script played out very differently this time. The South Americans struck early and often, with A. Sarco opening the floodgates in the 2nd minute. M. Carrizo added a brace 23rd and 53rd mins, while M. Silvetti sealed the humiliation with a composed finish in the 66th minute. By then, The Flying Eagles were chasing shadows.
By the final whistle, the scoreboard read 4–0, a result that ended Nigeria’s World Cup hopes in emphatic fashion. For Coach Zubairu and his players, the loss highlighted the gulf in preparation and execution between the two sides. For Nigeria’s football faithful, it was another painful reminder that raw talent without structure and discipline is not enough to conquer the world stage.
Argentina cruise into the final eight! ✈️🇦🇷#U20WC | #LegendsInTheMaking
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 8, 2025
