Nigeria’s Flying Eagles produced on Friday thrashed Qatar 4-0 in their first Group D match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup taking place in Poland.
Two goals in each of the halves ensured that Nigeria’s return to the competition after missing out of Korea 2017 ended on a good note in Tychy.
The former African champions scored two goals inside 25 minutes with left-back Ikouwem Utin providing the assists on both occasions.
For the first goal, Utin dumped his marker and unleashed a swerving shot, which Qatari goalkeeper Shehab Mamdouh could only push into the path of Maxwell Effiom, whose first-time volley broke the deadlock in the 12th minute of the encounter.
12 minutes later, Utin brilliantly escaped four challenges down the left before cutting the ball back to present Okechukwa Offia with a comfortable finish from close range.
In the 68th minute, Manchester City’s Tom Dele-Bashiru unleashed a sublime volley past Mamdouh after collecting a neat pass from the midfield to make it 3 – 0 for Nigeria.
The fourth goal came through Aliu Salawudeen six minutes later.
Flying Eagles will play their next match against the United States on Monday at the Bielsko-Bala Stadium.
