Abuja, October 6, 2025 (crestnewsonline.ng) —Nigeria’s Flying Eagles on Sunday drew 1-1 with Colombia to advance to the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA Under-20 World Cup finals in Chile.

Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt made big saves in the 23^rd and 26^th minutes to keep the scoreline favourable in the first half of their final group game in Talca.

But the Flying Eagles were the more adventurous side as they hit the upright on a number of occasions, with Tahir Maigana, Kparobo Arierhi and Suleman Sani in full flow for several moments during the match.

Colombia however went ahead six minutes into the second half when Kener Gonzalez swept the ball in off an assist by Neyser Villareal.

But the Flying Eagles were undaunted and launched onslaughts after onslaughts against the South Americans at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca.

Defender Odinaka Okoro was denied by the goalkeeper as he headed the ball from a pull-out by Maigana in the 76^th minute.

However, the two-time world silver medallists and seven-time African champions got their breakthrough with four minutes left in regulation time, when captain Daniel Bameyi sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty kick.

This was after a shot by Maigana was handled in the box.

Nigeria came close to earning the winner in the 89^th minute, but Arierhi’s shot was blocked in the box.

The draw has now pitched Nigeria against Argentina at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Santiago on Wednesday, in what is a repeat of the quarter-final pairing of the last championship hosted by Argentina, which Nigeria won 2-0 in San Juan.

Colombia will go on to confront another African side, South Africa, while Norway will take on Paraguay in the Round of 16. 

(CrestNewsOnline.ng)

*Edited by Shareef Ibala