An African team won the competition on one occasion; the Black Satellites were the winners in Egypt in 2009, so there were hopes that the Flying Eagles could bring the ultimate trophy after fourteen years.
Seung-won Lee of German fourth-tier side SV Lippstadt 08 assisted Choi Seokhyun in extra-time with a header that earned Korea Republic a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in a tense FIFA U-20 World Cup quarterfinal.
The Flying Eagles had the better of the first 90 minutes but were unable to create any meaningful chances against a tenacious defence.
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria came closer to getting a goal in the first half in the 43rd minute when Daniel Bameyi of Nigerian club Yumyum FC found himself in a promising position after receiving a pass on the edge of the box, which the centre-back blasted just over the bar.
Nigeria displayed excellent team chemistry, particularly when Victor Ehuwa Eletu had the best of them after a jinking dribble, but his shot was tipped around the post by Kim Joonhong.
Seung-won Lee delivered one of his low, quick crosses, and Choi cleverly headed it backwards, up and over goalkeeper Kingsley Aniagboso, and into the net after the clash had travelled to extra-time last Sunday night.
The Nigerians nearly equalised the goal in the 120+1 minutes, but Umeh Emmanuel, a Bulgarian team Botev Plovdiv centre-forward, made space in the box for a shot, but his effort went just wide of the right post.
José María Sánchez Martínez, a Spanish referee, ended the game after 120+2 in a dicey quarterfinal of the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Ladan Bosso, the head coach of the Flying Eagles, disclosed that his players, despite the team’s disappointing elimination from the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, made a good attempt.
