Nigeria qualify for U-20 World Cup knockouts after dramatic draw with Colombia
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Nigeria advanced to the Round of 16 of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™ after a dramatic 1–1 draw with Colombia in Talca on Sunday night, securing one of the final qualification spots as one of the best third-placed teams.
The Flying Eagles produced a spirited display, twice denied by the woodwork and thwarted several times by Colombia’s impressive goalkeeper Jordan García.
But despite their early dominance, they fell behind six minutes into the second half when Kener González broke the deadlock with a sharp finish following a quick Colombian break.
Aliyu Zubair’s side refused to surrender and continued to press for an equaliser, with striker Nasiru Salihu and midfielder Amos Ochoche both coming close.
Their persistence finally paid off four minutes from time when captain Daniel Bameyi held his nerve from the penalty spot for the second consecutive game, calmly converting to earn Nigeria a vital point.
The result ensured Colombia topped Group F, while Nigeria’s four points were enough to send them through as one of the best third-placed teams.
The Flying Eagles will now face the same opponent they knocked out at the same stage of the 2023 edition in Argentina — adding extra intrigue to their upcoming clash.
“It wasn’t easy but we stood our ground and were proactive,” said Nigeria coach Aliyu Zubair.
“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.”
Nigeria’s progress means three of the four African representatives — Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria — have made it to the knockout stages, underscoring the continent’s growing strength in youth football.
