Curl Curl teenager Cameron Peupion elated with Joeys upset win over Nigeria

Northern beaches schoolboy Cameron Peupion gives an insight into the emotion of the Joeys upset win at the FIFA U17 World Cup.

Cameron Peupion of Australia struggles for the ball with Quadri Edun of Nigeria during the FIFA U-17 Men's World Cup (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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Curl Curl footballer Cameron Peupion said the Joeys are riding high on emotion after their stunning victory over one of the best football teams in the world at the FIFA U17 World Cup.

Peupion, from the Sydney FC Academy, has played in all three of Australia’s matches at the tournament in Brazil.

But the weekend match against Nigeria was crucial, with the Joeys causing a major upset when they beat the 2013 and 2015 World Cup winner Nigeria 2-1.

Cameron Peupion in action at a Sydney FC Academy training. Pic: Jamie Castaneda.

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“The emotions were on a massive high,” Peupion, a Year 11 Pittwater House student, told the Manly Daily post game.

“We needed a win and we got the win that put us through to the round of 16.

“I couldn’t be happier. For me this has been a great experience.

“We have come a long way from the first game and definitely got a great result (against Nigeria).’’

It was a confidence building performance for the yougn Australian football side who failed to qualify for the last World Cup two years ago and in their last meeting with Nigeria back in 2015 were soundly thrashed 6-0 by the 2013 and 2015 World Cup winning side.

Noah Botic celebrates one of the goals he scored in the group B upset win over Nigeria at the FIFA u17 World Cup Brazil 2019.

The Joeys lost their first match of the tournament to Ecuador 2-1, drew with Hungary 2-2 in their second outing and then caused a boilover against Nigeria.

Rockdale’s Noah Botic was a standout for Australia with a brace in the crucial match.

Based in Germany with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, Boticc is having an outstanding tournament with four goals to date.

“We came here to win games and, although Nigeria were fantastic, we got the result,” said Australian coach Trevor Morgan.

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“It’s a plus for the boys, for their commitment and belief, to come here and play a top team and win.

“We played an excellent team with great quality and great physical capacity [but] the boys were able to keep concentrating, keep working, and in the end the result was fantastic for us.”