In 1999, Nigeria won the right to host the 12th edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship. That was the year; the Flying Eagles were labeled “wobbly and clumsy”. They started their World Cup campaign at home on a rather embarrassing note, with a 1-1 draw against low-ranked Costa Rica with Julius Aghahowa scoring the opener in the 20th minute of play, before picking up their performance against Germany, who they defeated 2-0. The goals were scored by Ganiyu Shittu and Hashimu Garba in the 69th and 81st minutes respectively.
Their final group game was against Paraguay, and they fumbled before a sellout crowd that had come to cheer them on for the win. The match against Paraguay ended in Paraguay’s favor 2-1 with Ganiyu Shittu scoring the consolation goal in the 38th minute of play. However, the Flying Eagles managed to qualify for the round of 16 by the skin of their teeth.
In the round of 16, the Flying Eagles worked hard to secure a 1-1 draw against Ireland with diminutive striker Pius Ikedia’s equalizing goal on 70 minutes. The game then went to a penalty shootout, and millions of Nigerians they had their hearts in their mouths for the duration of the shots. He eventually got in the way of the Flying Eagles who outscored 5-3. Pius Ikedia, Gbenga Okunowo, John Aranka, Eddy Dombraye and Ganiyu Shittu converted their penalties. Thomas Heary of the Republic of Ireland missed his penalty to set up a quarter-final matchup between Nigeria and Mali.
The Soaring Eagles had their work cut out for them as they found the Malians too hot to handle in the quarter-final clash played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, eastern Nigeria. The Malians were so ruthless in the quarter-final clash that they inflicted a 3-1 defeat on the hapless flyless Eagles when it mattered most. The Flying Eagles’ main tormentor was Malian entrepreneurial midfielder Seydou Keita, who later emerges as Adidas’ Ballon d’Or award winner.
The defeat of the hapless Flying Eagles caused much of a stir in sporting circles, with the eventual sacking of Dutch coach Thijs Libregts from the Nigerian under-20 national team coaching staff. The team had a lot of potential, but they couldn’t use their full potential. Some notable players from that team include: Joseph Yobo, Rabiu Afolabi, Julius Aghahowa, Haruna Babangida, and late goalkeeper Sam Okoye.