Nigeria’s Flying Eagles booked their place in the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, after a hard-fought 1–1 draw with Colombia in their final Group F match in Talca, Chile.
Lens News gathered that the match saw Colombia break the deadlock in the 51st minute, when Kener González pounced on a defensive lapse to slot the ball home. Nigeria trailed for much of the game, but persistence paid off. In the 86th minute, captain Daniel Bameyi coolly converted a penalty to level matters and secure the point needed for advancement.
Despite Colombia’s dominance and control for long spells, Nigeria held firm defensively and gradually grew into the game. Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt made crucial saves earlier to keep Nigeria in the contest.
With this result, Colombia finish top of Group F (undefeated), while Nigeria advance as one of the best third-placed teams. The Flying Eagles will now face Argentina in the Round of 16 in Santiago.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu and his team will now turn their focus to overcoming Argentina, a heavyweight test that historically carries high stakes in the U-20 tournament.
