Nigeria booked their place in the knockout stages of the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup after a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Colombia in Talca on Monday morning, Soccernet.ng reports.
It was a hard-fought result secured by another late, nerve-steady penalty from Flying Eagles captain Daniel Bameyi.
The Aliyu Zubairu-tutored lads needed at least a point to keep their campaign alive, and they did so the hard way.
After striking the woodwork an astonishing three times and falling behind early in the second half, Bameyi’s late spot-kick ensured Nigeria advanced as one of the best third-placed teams in Group F.
How it happened
The contest started at a blistering pace.
Nigeria almost took the lead within minutes when Kparobo Arierhi’s fierce drive clipped the post.
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Colombia responded instantly, with the South Americans missing a golden chance to take the lead before having a goal ruled out for offside.
Both teams kept testing each other but couldn’t break the deadlock before halftime despite end-to-end play.
Barely six minutes after the restart, Colombia found the breakthrough. Nigeria were caught on the counter, and Kener González made them pay with a sweeping finish into the near corner.
The Flying Eagles regrouped and poured forward. Sani Suleiman rattled the crossbar with a curling shot before Tahir Maigana hit the post again from close range.
Salihu Nasiru and Odinaka Okoro both saw their headers kept out by Colombia’s goalkeeper Jordan García in a frustrating passage for Nigeria.
Just when it looked like time would run out, Nigeria forced the issue.
Arierhi darted down the right and teed up Maigana, whose shot brushed the hand of a Colombian defender. The referee initially waved play on, but after a VAR review, awarded a penalty.
Bameyi, who had scored a stoppage-time penalty against Saudi Arabia earlier in the group, stepped up and coolly sent García the wrong way. His 84th-minute equaliser sealed Nigeria’s progress to the round of 16 with four points.
Presenting the #U20WC Round of 16!
Which #LegendsInTheMaking will take home the trophy? pic.twitter.com/PzCvrNMyU8
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 6, 2025
What next for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles?
Nigeria join France, South Korea and Spain as the four best third-placed teams of the group stage at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup.
The Flying Eagles will now face Group D winners Argentina, one of the tournament’s form sides, in what promises to be a blockbuster tie.
Nigeria alongside South Africa and Morocco are Africa’s surviving representatives, while Egypt exit after finishing third in Group A.
