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U20 World Cup: Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Defeat Saudi Arabia 3-2 in Thrilling Match
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Saudi Arabia on Friday in a Group Stage clash at the FIFA U20 World Cup, keeping alive their hopes of advancing to the next round.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The African side showed resilience after being tested by the disciplined Saudi team, scoring the winning goal late in the second half to secure all three points.
The match, played before a lively crowd, swung back and forth as both teams displayed attacking football. Saudi Arabia struck first in the 17th minute, capitalizing on defensive confusion in the Nigerian backline. The Flying Eagles responded strongly, equalizing through a powerful header in the 28th minute.
Momentum shifted again when Saudi Arabia regained the lead in the 38th minute with a clinical finish. But Nigeria refused to be shaken, pulling level just before halftime through a well-taken strike from outside the box.
The decisive moment came in the 72nd minute, when Nigeria’s forward converted a cross from the right wing, sending fans into celebration. The goal proved enough to seal the win despite late pressure from the Saudis.
“We knew this was not going to be an easy match,” Nigeria’s coach said afterward. “Saudi Arabia are a very organized team, but my players showed courage and determination. The most important thing is that we got the result.”
The victory puts Nigeria in a stronger position in Group D, where they are competing against Saudi Arabia, Argentina, and South Korea. With this result, the Flying Eagles move closer to securing qualification for the knockout stage.
Saudi Arabia’s coach praised his team’s effort but admitted they were punished by small mistakes. “We played with confidence and created chances, but at this level you must take every opportunity,” he said. “Nigeria used their speed and power, and that made the difference.”
This win highlights Nigeria’s long tradition of success at the youth level. The Flying Eagles, two-time U20 World Cup finalists, have produced stars who later shined for the senior national team, including John Obi Mikel and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Analysts noted that the Flying Eagles’ defense remains a concern, as the team has conceded goals in consecutive matches. However, their attacking strength continues to give them an edge. “The Nigerian boys play with energy and flair,” one commentator said. “If they can tighten their backline, they have the quality to go very far in this tournament.”
Fans in Nigeria celebrated the win, with many gathering in viewing centers across Lagos and Abuja to cheer for the young side. Social media buzzed with congratulatory messages, as supporters praised the team’s fighting spirit.
The Flying Eagles will now prepare for their next group game, a high-stakes encounter that could determine their path to the knockout stage. A win in that match would almost guarantee progression, while a loss would leave qualification uncertain.
For Saudi Arabia, the defeat makes their task more difficult. They will need to win their remaining matches and hope other results go in their favor to keep their tournament hopes alive.
The FIFA U20 World Cup is known for showcasing emerging talent from around the world. Scouts from European clubs were present at the game, watching closely for players who could become future stars. Several Nigerian players impressed with their pace, skill, and physical presence, which could open doors to opportunities abroad.
As the group stage continues, attention will remain on the Flying Eagles. With their mix of youth, energy, and experience, they are seen as one of Africa’s strongest hopes in the tournament.
For now, Nigeria can celebrate a vital 3-2 win that keeps their World Cup dream alive and reminds fans why the Flying Eagles remain a force in youth football.
Nigeria ended the 24th African Athletics Championships on a strong note as the women’s 4x400m relay team stormed to gold on the final day, helping the country finish with a total of 12 medals.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The quartet of Esther Okon, Toheebat Jimoh, Jecinter Lawrence, and Patience Okon-George delivered a dominant performance to successfully defend their title, winning in 3:29.25 on Sunday and finishing comfortably ahead of Ethiopia and Kenya.
Nigeria controlled the race from the opening leg and crossed the finish line nearly 30 metres clear of their closest rivals, securing the country’s fourth gold medal of the competition.
Overall, Team Nigeria finished fourth on the medal table with four gold, five silver, and three bronze medals, behind Kenya, South Africa, and Ethiopia. Kenya topped the standings with 17 medals, including six gold, while South Africa also secured six gold medals, and Ethiopia claimed five.
Nigeria’s final-day silver medal came through Rosemary Chukwuma, who finished second in the women’s 200m with a time of 23.60s, behind Ivory Coast’s Maboundou Kone, who clocked 23.36s. Chukwuma ended the championships with three medals, having earlier won gold in the women’s 4x100m relay and silver in the 100m.
The country’s campaign was led by world record holder Tobi Amusan, who claimed gold in the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 12.83s. The mixed 4x400m relay team of Ezekiel Asuquo, Toheebat Jimoh, Victor Sampson, and Patience Okon-George also secured gold in 3:16.44, while the women’s 4x100m relay team added another title in 42.94s.
Silver medals were won by Oyesade Olatoye in the hammer throw (69.60m), Divine Oladipo in the discus, and the men’s 4x100m relay team, which finished in 38.70s. Adaobi Tabugbo earned bronze in the women’s 100m hurdles with 13.26s, while Chidera Ezeakor also picked up bronze in the men’s 100m after running 10.31s, rounding off a strong outing for Nigeria.
Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore has criticised singer Adekunle Gold over the legal case involving a young man identified as Adeboye Samuel.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
News reports that Adeboye was taken to court after making a social media post about the singer’s daughter.
Reacting to the development, Sowore referenced an old post by Adekunle Gold in which the singer had criticised former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He noted that the post, which circulated during the 2012 fuel subsidy protests, had gone unpunished as an expression of free speech. The post read: “Dear God, if you give us Dagrin back, we will give you Jonathan in return.”
Sowore wrote on X: “@AdekunleGold in 2012 openly criticising then-President @GoodluckJonathan. Back then, it was rightly called free speech, and if he had been arrested for those tweets, we would have been on the streets demanding his immediate release.
“How then does someone who benefited from freedom of expression turn around years later to use the police, courts, and the brutal cybercrime framework against ordinary Nigerians over online banter and social media exchanges?
“You cannot enjoy free speech when you are powerless, and criminalise it the moment you become influential. Freedom of expression must apply to everyone, celebrities, politicians, activists, and poor young Nigerians on social media alike.”
He further urged the Nigeria Police Force not to act as a “private army” for influential individuals, and called on the judiciary to avoid imposing excessive penalties on online speech cases that, according to him, should not be treated as criminal matters.
Rabiu Kwankwaso, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on Nigerians to move beyond ethnic and religious divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Kwankwaso made the appeal during an interview with Trust TV on Sunday, where he spoke on political alignments ahead of the polls.
The former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) said political success in Nigeria cannot be achieved by the North or Muslims alone without support from Christians and other regions.
“We must look beyond tribe and religion. We are Northerners and Muslims, and everybody knows that, but we can’t play politics without Christians, Southeast, South-South or South-west,” he said.
Kwankwaso also praised former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, describing him as a widely accepted politician across the country.
“If you look at it, Peter Obi is a very popular politician in the entire South and many parts of Northern Nigeria, and you cannot take that from him, the same with the Kwankwasiyya movement,” he said.
He further noted that supporters of the Kwankwasiyya movement are largely young Nigerians who are seeking better opportunities rather than ethnic or family-based loyalty.
“We are lucky that our supporters are mainly young men and women who are looking for a way out. They are not looking for their brothers or their sisters or somebody close,” he added.
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