Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have booked a Round of 16 clash with Argentina after holding Colombia to a 1-1 draw in their final group match at the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
The seven-time African champions delivered a spirited performance in the early hours of Monday at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca, showing grit and attacking intent throughout the encounter.
Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt was instrumental in keeping Nigeria in the contest, producing key saves in the 23rd and 26th minutes. The Flying Eagles came closest to scoring in the first half as Tahir Maigana, Kparobo Arierhi, and Suleman Sani all saw efforts denied by the woodwork.
Colombia broke the deadlock in the 51st minute through Kener Gonzalez, who finished off Neyser Villareal’s assist to put the South Americans ahead. But the Flying Eagles refused to relent, pressing hard for an equaliser.
Their persistence paid off four minutes from time when captain Daniel Bameyi coolly converted from the penalty spot after a Colombian defender handled Maigana’s goal-bound shot in the box. Nigeria nearly stole all three points late on, but Arierhi’s 89th-minute effort was blocked inside the area.
The result means Nigeria advance to the knockout stage, where they will face hosts Argentina at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago on Wednesday — a repeat of the 2001 quarter-final clash, also hosted by Argentina, which Nigeria famously won 2–0 in San Juan.
Meanwhile, Colombia will play South Africa, while Norway meet Paraguay in the other Round of 16 fixtures.
