The Flying Eagles suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Norway in their opening match of the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup finals on Monday, despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, especially in the second half.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute from a controversial penalty, and although the Flying Eagles battled tirelessly to level the score, they were denied two penalty appeals after the break.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his left-footed strike inside the box drifted just wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while in the 63rd minute, Tahir Maigana’s powerful shot rattled the base of the upright.
The two-time silver medallists continued to press relentlessly, but Norway’s deep defensive setup blocked several attempts. In the 71st minute, Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort narrowly cleared both the goalkeeper and the crossbar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes before full time, the tireless Maigana tried his luck from distance, only to watch his strike miss the target by inches.