NIGERIA’s Flying Eagles have sealed a place in the Round of 16 at the ongoing 24th FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile after holding Colombia to a pulsating 1–1 draw in the early hours of Monday.
News Point Nigeria Sports reports that at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca, the seven-time African champions displayed grit and flair in a match that tested their resilience, defensive coordination, and attacking creativity.
Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt was the early hero, producing two point-blank saves in the 23rd and 26th minutes to deny Colombia’s Kener Gonzalez and Neyser Villareal.
Despite Colombia’s early surge, the Flying Eagles gradually took control, with Tahir Maigana, Kparobo Arierhi, and Suleman Sani leading a series of swift counterattacks that repeatedly stretched the South American defence and rattled the woodwork.
Colombia, however, broke the deadlock six minutes after the restart when Kener Gonzalez calmly slotted home from Villareal’s clever assist in the 51st minute.
Unfazed, the Nigerians kept pressing, with Odinaka Okoro coming close in the 76th minute with a thumping header that sailed narrowly wide.
Their perseverance paid off in the 86th minute when captain Daniel Bameyi converted from the penalty spot after a Colombian defender handled Maigana’s goal-bound strike inside the box.
Nigeria almost snatched a dramatic winner three minutes later, but Arierhi’s fierce effort was blocked in the crowded area as the match ended 1–1.
With the result, Nigeria finished second in Group C and will now face Argentina at the iconic Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago on Wednesday, a nostalgic rematch 20 years after their famous meeting in the 2005 final.
That 2005 encounter, held at the Galgenwaard Stadion in Utrecht, saw the Flying Eagles team coached by Samson Siasia and featuring future Super Eagles stars John Obi Mikel, Taye Taiwo, Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi, and Ambrose Vanzekin lose 2–1 to Argentina courtesy of two penalties converted by a young Lionel Messi before 24,500 spectators.
This time, the Flying Eagles are determined to script a different ending as they aim for a deep run in the tournament and possibly a first-ever U-20 world title.
Elsewhere, Colombia will take on South Africa, while Norway will battle Paraguay in other Round of 16 fixtures.
