FIFA U20 World Cup: Flying Eagles set up exciting round of 16 clash with Argentina

Nigeria’s U20 side, the Flying Eagles, have booked their place in the Round of 16 at the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile after earning a hard-fought 1–1 draw against Colombia in their final group game on Sunday.

The result means the seven-time African champions will face Argentina at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago on Wednesday, a repeat of the quarter-final encounter at the 2001 tournament hosted by Argentina, where Nigeria won 2–0 in San Juan.

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Flying Eagles goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt was instrumental in keeping the Flying Eagles in the contest, pulling off key saves in the 23rd and 26th minutes to deny Colombia an early lead.

Nigeria, however, looked the more adventurous side, striking the woodwork multiple times through Tahir Maigana, Kparobo Arierhi, and Suleman Sani, who kept the South Americans under constant pressure.

Colombia took the lead six minutes after the restart when Kener Gonzalez finished off a clever assist from Neyser Villareal, but the Flying Eagles refused to be deterred, pressing relentlessly for an equaliser.

Defender Odinaka Okoro came close in the 76th minute, seeing his header saved after connecting with a Maigana cross. The breakthrough finally came in the 86th minute when captain Daniel Bameyi calmly converted from the penalty spot after a Colombian defender handled Maigana’s goal-bound effort.

Nigeria nearly snatched victory late on, but Arierhi’s 89th-minute shot was blocked inside the box, ensuring the points were shared.

The Flying Eagles now shift their focus to a high-profile knockout showdown with Argentina.