The problems of Nigerian football deepened on the international stage on Wednesday night as the Flying Eagles were ruthlessly dismantled 4-0 by Argentina in the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
The heavy defeat ended Nigeria’s campaign in embarrassing fashion, raising fresh concerns about the country’s youth football structure, technical direction, and mental preparedness at the global level.
Argentina wasted no time asserting dominance, with A. Sarco opening the scoring as early as the 2nd minute after Nigeria’s defence failed to clear a routine cross. The South Americans doubled their lead in the 23rd minute through M. Carrizo, who capitalised on another defensive lapse to slot past goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu.
The Flying Eagles showed little sign of recovery after the restart. Carrizo struck again in the 53rd minute to make it 3-0, before M. Silvetti sealed Nigeria’s misery in the 66th minute with a composed finish.
By the 79th minute, it was clear that the two-time runners-up had been completely outclassed — tactically, physically, and mentally. Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s side offered little creativity going forward and struggled to cope with Argentina’s pace and precision in transition.
The result means Nigeria’s hopes of ending a 18-year wait for the U-20 world title have once again been dashed. The Flying Eagles, who reached the Round of 16 after a mixed group-stage performance — losing 1-0 to Norway, beating Saudi Arabia 3-2, and drawing 1-1 with Colombia — will now return home to reflect on what went wrong.
With growing discontent among fans and pundits, calls are mounting for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s youth football system — from talent development to coaching and administration.
For Argentina, the emphatic win sends them into the quarter-finals with momentum and confidence, while Nigeria is left to pick up the pieces of another international disappointment.