Flying Eagles Advance After Tense Draw, Set for Argentina Test

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are through to the knockout stage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup after a hard-fought 1–1 draw against Colombia in their final Group F fixture.

Colombia looked the sharper side for much of the contest and took the lead early in the second half when Kener González punished a lapse in concentration. The South Americans controlled long stretches of play, forcing Nigeria to dig deep and defend resolutely.

But the Flying Eagles found their breakthrough late on. With just minutes left, a foul in the box gave Nigeria a chance to level, and captain Daniel Bameyi made no mistake from the spot. His calm penalty in the 86th minute secured the vital point and sparked relief among the players and supporters.

Nigeria's late penalty grabs them a point and bolsters their #U20WC knockout chances.

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 6, 2025

The result means Nigeria advances as one of the group’s qualifiers, while Colombia progress as leaders. Next for the Flying Eagles is a high-profile showdown with Argentina, a fixture rich in history. Nigeria famously defeated the hosts 2–0 in San Juan during the 2023 edition, while Argentina had edged the Africans in the 2005 tournament when a young Lionel Messi inspired their side.

For Nigeria, the draw against Colombia was as much about resilience as it was about quality. The team showed character under pressure, and although Argentina presents a formidable challenge, the Flying Eagles have proved they can rise to the occasion.