Eaglets expectant in Korea test

The encounter is bound to be an intriguing clash of styles and football cultures when the fast-moving, team-oriented Koreans take on the improvisational and technically gifted Golden Eaglets. The Nigerians head south from their home-base of Abuja flying high on the crest of a wave of confidence. After drubbing the outgunned New Zealanders to the […]

The encounter is bound to be an intriguing clash of styles and football cultures when the fast-moving, team-oriented Koreans take on the improvisational and technically gifted Golden Eaglets.

The Nigerians head south from their home-base of Abuja flying high on the crest of a wave of confidence. After drubbing the outgunned New Zealanders to the tune of 5-0 in their round-of-16 clash in the capital, there may well be a dangerous intoxication creeping into the Eaglets’ camp.

 They, however, are not world-beaters yet and will face a far sterner test when the lively Koreans come calling. Stanley Okoro has been pulling the strings brilliantly in midfield and Sani Emmanuel has proven himself the purest super-sub of these finals, scoring a pair against the Kiwis off the bench for John Obuh’s talented outfit.

The Koreans, by contrast, needed penalties to win their tense and tight last-16 contest with Mexico. After trailing for the entirety of the second half in Bauchi, only a last-gasp goal from Kim Dong Jin brought the scores level and forced extra-time. In the end, the Asians hit all of their penalties in the shootout to win the day by the skin of their teeth.

Scoring goals has been a problem for the Taeguk Warriors, but if they can manage to turn their many chances and good possession-game into goals in Calabar, the fancied Nigerians may well find themselves in a heap of trouble.

The winner of the contest will take on the victorious side from the Spain-Uruguay contest on 9 November in Kaduna in the semi-finals.