History within grasp of France and Nigeria

The stakes Though France have now won all three of their Round of 16 ties in FIFA U-20 World Cup history, they have never won a quarter-final encounter. On the two occasions they previously reached the last eight, in 1997 and 2001, Les Bleuets were downed by the South American duo of   the last 16. […]

The stakes

Though France have now won all three of their Round of 16 ties in FIFA U-20 World Cup history, they have never won a quarter-final encounter. On the two occasions they previously reached the last eight, in 1997 and 2001, Les Bleuets were downed by the South American duo of   the last 16.

Nigeria, for their part, have made history by winning four consecutive games at the finals of a FIFA U-20 World Cup, a first for the west African nation. The only side, alongside hosts Colombia, with a 100 per cent record thus far, the Flying Eagles also have a positive pedigree at this stage of the global U-20 showpiece, having beaten Mexico in 1985, the former Soviet Union in 1989 and the Netherlands in 2005. On the other two occasions they reached the last eight, they lost to Mali and Chile in 1999 and 2007 respectively.

At Colombia 2011 it has been the Nigerians’ attacking play that has really caught the eye, and which arguably makes them slight favourites in Cali. Scorers of 13 goals to this point, deadly trio of Ahmed Musa, Olarenwaju Kayode and Edafe Egbedi have all struck three times to jointly hold