Nigeria will face Argentina in the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup taking in Chile.
The Flying Eagles survived a scare from Colombia in their last Group F game to settle for a 1-1 draw in Talca to reach the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams.
Having secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia in their second match, Aliyu Zubairu’s boys needed a point against the South Americans to scale through.
After a goalless first-half at the Estadio Fiscal, it was the Colombians who took the well-deserved lead in the 51st minute after Kener Gonzalez’s effort beat goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt.
On the other hand, the Africans came close to equalising with three of their efforts hitting the woodwork, although kudos must be given to goalkeeper Jordan Garcia who had a good day at the office.
With the Nigerian team looking dead and buried, their persistence paid off with minutes left on the clock after referee Nazmi Nasaruddin awarded them a penalty as video replays adjudged Elkin Rivero had handled a goal-bound Tahir Maigana shot.
Captain Daniel Bameyi converted the ensuing kick after sending Garcia the wrong way. Thanks to the result, the Flying Eagles booked a place in the knockout phase.
“It wasn’t easy but we stood our ground and were proactive. We knew they are physically strong and good on the ball so we tried to deny them passing lanes and that gave us a little edge. All we wanted was to qualify for the next round and we are not worried about who we have to face,” said coach Aliyu Zubairu.
Nigeria will now face a huge hurdle when they come across the six-time U20 World Cup winners who finished as Group D winners with three wins to their credit.
The fixture holds on Wednesday evening at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos, Santiago with the winners facing either hosts Chile or Mexico in the quarter-final.
Elsewhere, reigning U20 African champions South Africa must negotiate their way past Colombia at the Estadio Fiscal, Talca to guarantee their place in the last eight.
High-flying Morocco who finished as Group C winners will slug it out against Asian powerhouse South Korea inside Estadio El Teniente, Rancagua.
Sadly, Africa’s fourth representatives Egypt failed to make it past the group stage despite edging past hosts Chile in their last group fixture.
Ghana are the only African team to have won the U20 World Cup with the Andre Ayew-inspired Black Satellites defeating Brazil on penalties in the final of the 2009 edition staged in Egypt.
