Flying Eagles hope of breaking a 34-year-old jinx of failing to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which has seen the country losing the trophy twice in 1989 and 2005, continues today, when the team files out against Saudi Arabia in its last group D match. Both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have qualified for the second round of the tournament having both won their first two matches. While Flying Eagles trashed debutants Guatemala 5-0 on Sunday and Croatia 5-2 on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia topped Croatia 2-0 on Sunday and Guatemala 6-0 on Wednesday.
The Saudi’s are good having scored eight goals and conceded none with Flying Eagles scoring 10 and conceded two in the process. The two goals Flying Eagles conceded came from dead ball situation, free kick, giving the hint that the team’s dead ball marking is suspect.
Today’s match is not a mere formality in that the team that tops the group remains in Armenia and will play a weaker team in the second round. The group winner will play the third best placed team from either group B, E, or F, with the second placed team from the group D playing group E winners. Brazil is likely to top group E, hence Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh, is determined not to let off the group top spot. Obuh needs a draw to back in Armenia while Saudi Arabia must win to top the group.
