Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Colombia in their final Group F fixture on Monday.
Daniel Bameyi once again emerged as the hero for Ladan Bosso’s side, calmly slotting home an 86th-minute penalty after a Colombian defender handled the ball in the box. The equaliser proved crucial, rescuing a valuable point after the Nigerians had fallen behind earlier in the game.
Colombia’s Kener Gonzalez had given his side the lead in the 52nd minute, finishing off a quick counterattack that caught the Nigerian defence off guard. Despite conceding first, the Flying Eagles showed great determination and attacking flair, hitting the woodwork three times through Daniel Daga, Suleiman Sani, and Tahir Maigana.
The result means Nigeria finished third in Group F with four points, progressing as one of the best third-placed teams. Colombia topped the group with five points, while Norway also secured five points to finish second following a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia.
Nigeria will now face a daunting challenge in the Round of 16 as they take on tournament favourites Argentina on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, at 8:30 p.m. Nigeria time. The Argentines, six-time winners of the U-20 World Cup, have been dominant so far, topping Group D with nine points, scoring eight goals and conceding just two.
Argentina’s impressive run includes a 3-1 victory over Cuba, a 4-1 win against Australia, and a narrow 1-0 triumph over Italy.
The upcoming clash revives memories of their famous 2001 Round of 16 encounter in Buenos Aires, where Nigeria stunned the hosts 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals — a moment still cherished by Nigerian fans.
Other Round of 16 fixtures are as follows:
- Chile vs Mexico
- Ukraine vs Spain
- Colombia vs South Africa
- USA vs Italy
- Paraguay vs Norway
- Japan vs France
With qualification secured and confidence restored, the Flying Eagles will aim to draw inspiration from history as they prepare to face Argentina once again on the global stage.
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