Nigeria notched a 4-2 comeback win over Hungary Saturday night at Goiania’s Estadio Olimpico in the Group B opener of the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2019™.
A trio of Golden Eaglet goals in the 79th, 81st and 85th minutes were decisive for the five-time U-17 world champions.
Coach Manu Garba’s boys showed doggedness as they came back from behind twice to outscore Hungary 4-2 in their opening Group B tie played at the Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico.
Despite conceding the opening goal three minutes into the match, Nigeria were quick to regain control of the tempo on the pitch.
Captain Samson Tijani was fundamental in connecting his side’s attacking moves. He scored Nigeria’s first and final goals: a converted penalty in the 20th minute and a free-kick that took a friendly deflection in the 85th minute.
Sandwiched between those were close-range headed goals from Usman Ibrahim (79′) and Oluwatimilehin Adeniyi (81′).
The Golden Eaglets as fondly called by Nigerians hold the record as the most successful team in the history of the FIFA cadet World Cup having won the competition five times in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.