Nigeria will clash with Germany in Christchurch on Thursday in an U-20 World Cup Round of 16 match after they defeated Hungary 2-0 to finish second in Group E.
It will be a clash of the African champions against the champions of Europe.
The Flying Eagles recorded six points from three matches to finish second behind Brazil, who won the group after they beat North Korea to tally the maximum nine.
Taiwo Awoniyi gave Nigeria the lead in the 33rd minute, when he finished off a low drive by Godwin Saviour from the right flank.
Awoniyi doubled the advantage after 54 minutes, when he cashed in on a defensive mix-up to round the Hungary goalkeeper Gyorgy Szekely for his second goal of the tournament.
Hungary took the early attacking initiative, but it was Nigeria that really threatened after Godwin Saviour’s shot narrowly missed target after 12 minutes.
The Hungary goalkeeper then pushed to corner a goal-bound shot by Kingsley Sokari in the 14thminute.
Two minutes later, Bernard Bulbwa saw his promising pile driver also deflected for a corner.
Awoniyi was denied a goal by goalkeeper Szekely, who saved his header from inside the six-yard box.
The gangling striker could have completed his hat-trick on 59 minutes, but he could not direct his shot on target when he was faced with an open goal.
Minutes later, he combined beautifully with leftback Mustapha Abdullahi but the flowing move was thwarted for a corner.
Sokari’s shot on 75 minutes from inside the box was too weak and too direct to trouble the goalkeeper.
ROUND OF 16 MATCHES
WEDNESDAY, 10 JUNE
Ghana Vs Mali (Wellington)
Serbia Vs Hungary (Dunedin)
USA Vs Colombia (Wellington)
Ukraine Vs Senegal (Auckland)
THURSDAY, 11 JUNE
Austria Vs Uzbekistan (Whangarei)
Germany Vs Nigeria (Christchurch)
Portugal Vs New Zealand (Hamilton)
Brazil Vs Uruguay (New Plymouth). Agency report
