FIFA U20 WORLD Cup: All You Need To Know About Nigeria Versus Dominican Republic

FIFA U20 WORLD Cup: All You Need To Know About Nigeria Versus Dominican Republic

By Gbenga Gboyega 

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria face the Dominican Republic on Sunday at 7 pm Nigerian time at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza to kick off their FIFA U-20 World Cup charge. Here's all you need to know as curated by BSNSports.com.ng.

Both teams have never met at this stage of the tournament before, with tomorrow being their first encounter together, but coming on different rankings in Africa, with the Nigeria U-20 side ranked 4th, while the Dominican Republic U-20 team holds 2nd position as it stands. 

Dominican Republic's last five games have been international friendlies, all ending in losses, and by extension seven losses on the bounce, dating far back as the CONCACAF Championship final loss against USA U-20 in July 2022. 

For the Flying Eagles, 3 wins and a loss in their final four games at the AFCON plus the 3-all draw against Columbia U-20 in a friendly earlier this month, sums up the team's run of form in the last five games (3W, 1L, 1D).

The Flying Eagles' best performances on FIFA's global stage at this age level, came on two occasions - finishing as runner-ups in both the 1985 Mundial in Saudi Arabia, where the Eagles lost two goals to nil against Portugal and the 2005 edition in the Netherlands, where Argentina were 2-1 victors. 

Dominican Republic would be featuring on the global stage for the first time, as they seek to battle the Flying Eagles of Nigeria, Italy, and Brazil in Group D. 

Given recent form, play, and prestige, the Flying Eagles hold the upper end of the odds for a 65% stake at a win, against the Dominican Republic's 35% with the bookies holding their cards close to their chest for this mash-up.