Nigeria, Oct. 2 -- The Flying Eagles are staring down a pivotal moment at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile. After a frustrating opening-day defeat, Aliyu Zubairu's side will be desperate to bounce back when they face Saudi Arabia in their second Group F clash on Thursday.

Nigeria began their campaign with a 1-0 loss to Norway, conceding early through a VAR-awarded penalty before dominating large spells of the game without finding a breakthrough. Despite the setback, their performance showed flashes of the quality and grit that have made Nigeria one of the tournament's most consistent participants.

This encounter with Saudi Arabia carries extra weight. With Colombia and Norway already on three points, anything short of victory could leave...