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Nigeria U20 team will be making their 11th appearance at the world youth football showpiece and Goal chronicles the key numbers that have marked their participation.
Coach Manu Garba’s side go to New Zealand with the ambition of ending the jinx of not lifting the Fifa U20 World Cup. Plausible as this optimism may sound, Goal gives an account of the Flying Eagles’ outing in this competition’s history in numbers.
0- The number of titles won by Nigeria at this championship.
1- The number of times Nigeria hosted the Fifa U20 World Cup. This was achieved in 1999 as the Flying Eagles finished eighth after they were bundled out of the quarter final by Mali at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. They became the second African country to host this tourney after Tunisia staged it in 1977.
3- Brazil, Portugal and Soviet Union are the countries to have faced Nigeria at this level of competition on the most occasions. The Flying Eagles met Brazil in 1983 (lost 0-3), 1987 (lost 0-4) and in 2005 (drew 0-0). For the Portuguese, the Flying Eagles played them first in the group stage of the 1989 edition as Paulo Alves’s strike in the 88th minute caged them at the Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh. They met again in the final and the Europeans triumphed 2-0 with Abel Silva and Jorge Couto getting on the scorers’ sheet. Their third meeting ended in a 3-2 defeat of Nigeria at the 2013 edition in Turkey. Soviet Union have also met Nigeria thrice; 1983 (Nigeria won 1-0), 1985 (lost 2-1) and the last time known as the ‘Miracle of Daman’ where the Flying Eagles came from four goals down to beat the Europeans 5-3 on penalties.
3- Least number of goals conceded by Nigeria in a tournament, this feat was achieved at the Mexico 1983 edition. Unfortunately, Christopher Udemezue’s team did not make this impressive record count as they failed to get past the group stage which had eventual winners, Brazil.
3- This number also marks the most goals scored by a Nigerian in a single tournament. This honour is shared by Odiaka Monday (1985), Mutiu Adepoju & Christopher Ohenhen (1989), Chinedu Obasi (2005), Edafe Egbedi, Olarenwaju Kayode & Ahmed Musa (2011) and Abdul Jeleel Ajagun (2013).
Mikel against Argentina in the final of Netherlands 2005
5- This represents the most goals scored in a single match by Nigeria at the mundial. In Egypt 2009, the Flying Eagles spanked Tahiti 5-0 in the group stage. While at Colombia 2011, Guatemala lost 5-0 and Croatia 5-2 to Nigeria.
9- The number of times Nigeria have failed to qualify for the tournament. Their first black-out was at the edition staged in Tunisia in 1977 followed by their absence in Japan 1979 before missing out of Australia (1981), Portugal (1991), Australia (1993), Qatar (1995), Malaysia (1997), Argentina (2001) and United Arab Emirates (2003) respectively.
14- The number of seconds it took Monday Odiaka to score the fastest goal in Fifa U20 World Cup history against Canada in 1985. His compatriot John Owoeri netted the second-quickest, four seconds shy of the record, against the Netherlands in 2005.
Peter Ogaba is the youngest-ever Nigerian to have represented the country in this competition at 14 years and five months which was achieved at the Saudi Arabia-hosted tournament in 1989.
Owoeri: Scorer of the second fastest goal in U20 World Cup history
15- Most goals scored in a tournament. This was achieved at the Colombia 2011 championship where John Obuh’s side ran riot against all opposing teams but were shown the exit door in the quarter final after bowing 3-2 to France after extra time. Whereas at Mexico 1983, Nigeria recorded their least number of goals with one goal in three games. It came off the boot of Tarila Okoronwata in Nigeria’s 1-0 defeat of the Soviet Union.
Ahmed Musa scored three goals for Nigeria at Colombia 2011
20- The number of games Nigeria have won in 10 Fifa U20 World Cup tournaments, a record among African teams. On the other hand, they have lost 18 matches while they have secured a draw 11 times.
39 - The number of games Nigeria have played at Fifa U20 World Cups, making them the highest playing African side in the history of the competition.
70- The total number of goals Nigeria have scored in all Fifa World U20 championships they have participated in. Little wonder they are one of the highest scoring sides in the history of the competition. Also, they have conceded 61 goals in the same number of outings.
77,000- This is the record number of spectators to watch a Flying Eagles game in the World Cup. This was set on March 3, 1989 in Nigeria’s 2-0 defeat to Portugal in the final. The Europeans won by goals scored by Abel Silva and Jorge Couto.
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