Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have qualified for the Round of 16 at the ongoing 24th FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile after a hard-fought 1–1 draw with Colombia in the early hours of today.
Playing at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca, the seven-time African champions produced a resilient display, with goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt making key saves to keep Nigeria in the game during a tense first half.
Colombia took the lead in the 51st minute through Kener Gonzalez, but Nigeria fought back, and captain Daniel Bameyi equalized from the penalty spot in the 86th minute after a Colombian handball.
The Flying Eagles almost snatched a late winner, but Kparobo Arierhi’s shot was blocked near the end.
The result sets up a Round of 16 clash against Argentina at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Santiago tomorrow rematch of the previous U-20 World Cup quarter-final that Nigeria won 2–0.