By Victor Kanayo
Argentina Coach, Javier Mascherano, has resigned after his team failed to progress to the quarter-final of the ongoing 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup.
His side suffered a humiliating defeat by their Nigerian counterparts who beat them 2-0 in the round of 16 stage of the competition.
It was two second-half goals from Ibrahim Mohammed and Rilwanu Haliru Sarki that condemned host Argentina to defeat and secured Nigeria’s progress to the quarter-final.
The Argentine team were then depressed at the night despite shocking loud home crowd who had arrived in great numbers to support them.
Mascherano while responding to questions after the match, told Buenos Aires Times that he has tendered his resignation letter to the President of the Argentina Football Association, Claudio Tapia.
“I have great relationship with AFA President, Claudio Tapia, and I will continue until he doesn’t want me. He has my my resignation letter on his desk but my idea is to continue because I feel I am good enough for this role and as long as they believe the same I will be here,” he said.
Argentina had performed well in the previous editions.
However, they initially failed to qualify for this year’s world cup, but they later earned a place at the last minute after FIFA withdrew hosting rights from Indonesia and awarded the tournament to Argentina.
