African champions Nigeria on Thursday crashed of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup when they lost 1-0 to Germany in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Germany will now meet another African team, Mali, in the quarterfinal at the same venue on Sunday.
Levin Oeztunali was Germany’s match winner when he put his team in front after 19 minutes when he struck home from inside the box after a great work by the dangerous March Stendera.
Nigeria fought back in the second half, but they failed to create any clear-cut chance, leaving goalkeeper Marvin Schwaebe to be virtually on holidays.
Germany controlled the first half and created more chances.
Wilfred Ndidi was forced to clear the danger for a corner after eight minutes.
Nigeria then carved a chance out of nothing in the 15th minute, when Taiwo Awoniyi drilled a low cross from the right but Godwin Saviour failed to connect home for Nigeria.
Hany Mukhtar then saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Joshua Ebnaholo after 31 minutes after Germany continued to pile on the pressure. Four minutes later, Enaholo again made another save from a header by Mukhtar.
Again it was Enaholo who denied Germany a second goal in the first 45 minutes when he kept out a fierce, left-footed Stendera strike from inside the box a minute to the interval.