Bameyi: Flying Eagles are gunning for FIFA U20 trophy

Flying Eagles’ dimunitive captain, Daniel Bameyi says he and the rest of the team are confident they can make history as the first Nigerian side to win the FIFA U20 World Cup.

The Nigerians are seeking a semifinal berth on Sunday against the Korea Republic after stunning host Argentina 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

Bameyi who made his senior international debut at only 16, and is now the youngest captain and smallest centre-back at the FIFA U-20 World Cup ongoing in Argentina says they will not underrate the Koreans

‘First of all, there is no small team in the World Cup. Every team in this competition is good. You must respect every team. Then any team in the knockout
stage is obviously very good. I think the Koreans are a very good team.

‘They have beaten other very good teams. I think they have very good players. We have a lot of respect for them,’ he said.

Bameyi revealed how exxcited the Nigerians were after the incredible defeat of the Argentines.

‘Wow, wow. I was feeling like, ‘We made it, we did it’. But this was just [the first game] of the knockout stage. We still have three other games to play. We
had to enjoy it for the moment, but then focus on the next game we have to play,’ he told FIFA.com.

Asked how intimidating was it playing Argentina in Argentina with all that noise?

‘Wow, wow, wow, wow. It was a great game, I must say. It’s a great national team we’re talking about, a very amazing team. They are very complete. This team
is very special.

‘If you watch the game, they made us suffer. We did suffer a lot in the game, but we know this Nigeria spirit. The team wasn’t intimidated
because we have been in this situation before.

‘We were playing in Egypt against the hosts, and we came out successfully (Nigeria won 1-0 in Cairo at the U-20 AFCON in February). So we were ready for everything. We knew we were going to play against everything, against the hosts, and at the end of the day we are happy we came out victorious.’