Portugal U20 defender Tiago Ilori has tipped his team and Nigeria to make it past Group B of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey.
Portugal defeated the Flying Eagles 3-2 Friday night to begin their quest for the world championship on a winning note.
Two-time champions Portugal lead Group B with three points after the first round of matches, while South Korea are second also on three points after their 2-1 win over Cuba.
Both Nigeria and Cuba are yet to record any points.
?It was a good match against a good team and I hope Portugal and Nigeria go through to the next round of the competition,? said Ilori, whose father is Nigerian.
?I see that Nigeria changed their team completely from the one that played against us in Toulon, where I liked the big centre-back (OluwaSemilogo Ajayi).
?On Friday, I liked the No.9 (Olanrewaju Kayode), he is very fast; obviously the No.10 (Ajagun), who scored two goals and so too the No.7.?
The Sporting Lisbon centre back moved to Portugal from London, where he was born, when he was only eight years old.
He said he was disappointed not to feature in Friday?s match at the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri.
Ilori, whose father has closed down his restaurant business to live with his son in Lisbon, also spoke about former Nigeria U20 star Rabiu Ibrahim who was with him at the Sporting Lisbon Academy.
?He is a very talented player but unfortunately he did not get his chance at Sporting. I see that he has now moved to Scotland. I wish him the very best,? said the tall, highly-rated defender.
