PUNCH
After several defeats against Argentina at senior and youth levels, the Flying Eagles finally paid the South Americans back in their own coin right in their backyard at the ongoing U-20 World Cup, writes EBENEZER BAJELA
It was Scottish poet, Walter Scott, who once said, “Revenge, the sweetest morsel to the mouth that ever was cooked in hell.”
On Wednesday, it was sweet revenge as the country’s U-20 team the Flying Eagles deservedly got their pound of flesh back against Argentina in front of their home fans to send the hosts packing from the ongoing U-20 World Cup at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina.
At the senior level, the Super Eagles have lost all five World Cup games to the Argentines (1994, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018).
At the U-20 category, Argentina equally showed their superiority in their only meeting, when a Lionel Messi brace condemned the Flying Eagles to a 2-1 defeat in the final of the tournament in 2005.
Argentina, led by the inimitable Messi, had reigned supreme at last year’s World Cup, leading Albiceleste to a third triumph in Qatar.
A remarkable moment before their victory in the East was after the semi-final 3-0 win over Croatia, which ushered them into the final. Madonna’s song “Don’t cry for me, Argentina,” filled the entire iconic Lusail stadium, as jubilant Argentines sang and danced their way to the final.
At the U-20 World Cup, they had also hoped to sing and dance their way to the final, as 27,179 home fans packed the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario to cheer their future stars to victory against the Africans, who had only managed two final appearances and a third-place finish at the competition, while their hosts were seeking their seventh title on home soil.
However, it was not the case, as the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario found itself in a serene, mournful state. You could hear the sound of a pin drop but for the celebrations of the Nigerian contingent, who had just achieved an unlikely feat 9,125km away from Nigeria.
Home fans wore sullen faces, tears welling in their eyes as their darling team, managed by the respected Javier Mascherano, crashed out 2-0.
Ibrahim Muhammad and Haliru Sarki’s second-half goals had edged just out the record U-20 World Cup winners.
After a goalless first half, the Flying Eagles opened scoring in the 61st minute through Muhammad, but the pumped-on hosts attacked in…
