TheCable

Flying Eagles of Nigeria have crashed out of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup holding in New Zealand after succumbing to a 19th-minute strike by Werder Bremen midfielder, Levin Öztunalı.

Coach Manu Garba started the game with the same lineup he employed in the last game, again leaving out star players Kelechi Iheanacho, Success Isaac and Musa Yahaya.

The Germans had an assured opening to the game, bossing possession and pegging back the Eagles in their own half. The pressure would pay off in the  19th minute, when Kingsley Sokari, the man who took Iheanacho’s place, was dispossessed by Stendera, who fed Oztunali for a wicked shot into the net from the edge of the box.

Germany maintained the pressure all through the first half and in the second, Nigeria looked the hungrier side but could not make it count.

Once, Awoniyi seemed clear on goal from a typical long ball from the Nigerian half, but opposition defenders rallied to shove him off the ball before he could pull the trigger.

Isaac Success came on for Godwin Saviour in the 48th minute, while Sokari exited for Chidi Nwakali in the 80th minute, but the Germans clung on to victory and will now face Mali in the quarter-final.