The Flying Eagles of Nigeria booked their place in the knockout stage of the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile after a dramatic 1–1 draw against Colombia at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca on Sunday.
Daniel Bameyi’s composed penalty in the 86th minute rescued a vital point for Nigeria, ensuring their progression to the Round of 16 where they will face Argentina on October 8.
The encounter was a tense affair filled with drama, missed chances, and the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which ultimately played a decisive role in the outcome.
Nigeria started brightly, hitting the woodwork in the third minute through a Daniel Daga header. However, Colombia appeared more clinical as they found the net in the 20th minute through Oscar Perea, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside following a VAR check.
The South Americans eventually took the lead six minutes into the second half when Kener Gonzalez’s strike deflected off a Nigerian defender to wrong-foot goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt.
Despite several chances, the Flying Eagles struggled to convert in open play — a problem that has persisted since the U-20 AFCON earlier this year. Their persistence, however, paid off late in the game when coach Aliyu Zubairu requested a VAR review for a possible handball inside the Colombian box.
After consultation with the pitchside monitor, Malaysian referee Muhammad Nazmi bin Nasaruddin awarded a penalty. Captain Daniel Bameyi confidently stepped up to level the score, sending the Nigerian fans into wild celebration.
Speaking after the match, coach Aliyu Zubairu praised his players’ resilience, saying, “The boys showed great character. They didn’t give up, even when things weren’t going our way. We’ll correct our finishing problems before facing Argentina.”
While the result was enough to send Nigeria through, the match once again highlighted the team’s overreliance on set-pieces. Out of their four goals in the tournament so far, only one has come from open play.
Captain Bameyi, who has now scored twice from the spot in consecutive games, continues to impress with his leadership and composure. His late equaliser against Colombia reaffirmed his growing reputation as a dependable leader on and off the pitch.
