Italy head coach Carmine Nunziata has admitted that the Flying Eagles played better than his side in their Group D encounter on Wednesday night.

Gil Azzurrini suffered a 2-0 defeat to the West Africans in their second game at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Mendoza.

Nunziata started the game on a strong note, pinning the Flying Eagles back, but couldn’t sustain the momentum.

Salim Fago gave Nigeria the lead on 61 minutes after he was set up by a delightful Tochukwu Nnadi cross.

Winger Jude Sunday then ran to goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso's long ball to score the second deep into stoppage time.

“It was a difficult match, especially on a physical level,” Nunziata told the Italian Football Federation's official website.

“Nigeria was going twice as fast as us. We had the occasion of the crossbar, and we could have made better use of the spaces.”

Italy will take on the Dominican Republic in their last group game on Sunday.