Royal Antwerp youngster set to fill key role as Flying Eagles prepare for World Cup showdown
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has announced that Royal Antwerp winger Orseer Achihi will take the place of the suspended Sani Suleiman in Wednesday’s FIFA U20 World Cup round of 16 match against Argentina at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago.
Suleiman, a standout player for Nigeria, is out due to two yellow cards received during the group stage. He was first cautioned in Nigeria’s 3–2 win over Saudi Arabia and received another booking in stoppage time during the 2–1 loss to Colombia.
With Suleiman unavailable, Zubairu is likely to position Achihi on the left, where Suleiman has played in recent matches. The 19-year-old made his debut in Nigeria’s first game against Norway when Suleiman was injured, although he was later substituted as the team sought to turn the match around.
Although not widely known, Achihi has impressed since joining Royal Antwerp’s senior team shortly after his 18th birthday. His speed and skill in breaking defenses could be crucial as Nigeria faces the six-time world champions.
Zubairu’s squad has trained well, and the coach is confident that Achihi can rise to the challenge. The Flying Eagles hope his presence will help keep their attacking momentum when they take on Argentina at 8:30 p.m. Nigerian time.