Nigeria edge Dominican Republic in 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup opener

Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, have won their opening game of the Argentina 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup but had to do it the hard way as they came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic.

The game, played at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, saw the Flying Eagles going behind in the 23rd minute after the islanders’ star player Edison Azcona converted from a spot kick.

It was a dream start for a Dominican Republican side that made history by becoming the first team from their country to take part in a global football tournament.

But it wasn’t always going to their day as Nigeria, two-time finalists at the U-20 World Cup – in 1989 and 2005 – were back on level terms eight minutes later after a corner kick forced Guillermo Rosario to put the ball into his own goal.

The Flying Eagles completed their comeback in the 71st minute when Samson Lawal pounced on a defensive error to put his side ahead and give Ladan Bosso’s team the maximum three points and top spot in Group D pending the outcome of the group’s other game between Brazil and Italy.