Nigeria's Flying Eagles have successfully booked their spot in the highly anticipated round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Colombia. The decisive match, held in Talca on a Monday morning, saw the Nigerian squad demonstrate resilience, with captain Daniel Bameyi once again proving to be a key figure by scoring a late penalty to secure their progression.

The contest began with a blistering pace, with Nigeria showing early intent. Kparobo Arierhi's well-placed header clipped the post within minutes, and Daniel Daga also struck the woodwork in the third minute, signaling Nigeria's early profligacy. Colombia responded by having a goal ruled out for offside after an earlier missed golden chance. Despite end-to-end play, neither team could break the deadlock before halftime.

The second half saw Colombia find the breakthrough barely six minutes after the restart. Nigeria was caught on the counter-attack, and Kener González capitalized with a sweeping finish into the near corner. The goal, occurring in the 51st minute, followed a well-worked build-up where González’s shot at Ebenezer Harcourt was deflected, taking the ball away from the goalkeeper.

Undeterred, the Flying Eagles regrouped and intensified their offensive efforts. However, their struggle with finishing continued, as they repeatedly hit the woodwork. Sani Suleiman rattled the crossbar with a curling shot, and Tahir Maigana hit the post again from close range. Salihu Nasiru and Odinaka Okoro also saw their headers expertly saved by Colombia’s goalkeeper, Jordan García, in a frustrating period for Nigeria.

Just as time seemed to be running out, Nigeria forced the issue. Kparobo Arierhi darted down the right flank and teed up Tahir Maigana, whose subsequent shot brushed the hand of a Colombian defender. The referee initially waved play on, but a VAR review, requested by coach Aliyu Zubairu, confirmed the handball, leading to a penalty award. Daniel Bameyi, who had previously scored a stoppage-time penalty against Saudi Arabia, stepped up in the 84th minute and coolly sent García the wrong way, levelling the scores and sealing Nigeria’s progress to the round of 16 with four points.

Soccernet.ng provided performance ratings for the Nigerian players. Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt earned a 6.5/10 for a good game, making two saves despite the deflected goal. Amos Ochoche, the 19-year-old fullback, received a 6.7/10 for his fine defensive showing. Daniel Bameyi was rated 8/10, praised for his crucial goal and strong defensive performance. Haruna Aliyu, who made his first start, got 6.7/10, picking himself up after deflecting Colombia's goal-bound shot. Odinaka Okoro secured a 6.7/10 for his astute defensive play and contributions in attack. Tahir Maigana received 6.6/10, acknowledged for his role in causing the penalty despite some wastefulness. Daniel Daga scored 6.5/10, delivering a solid performance in midfield with 42 touches and two tackles. Israel Ayuma had a decent 6.3/10 showing in the midfield, while Suleiman Sani's pace on the left earned him 6.6/10, along with four goal attempts. Nasiru Salihu, the 19-year-old forward, had a solid 6.5/10 game, causing problems for the Colombians despite fluffing an early chance. Kparobo Arierhi had his best game of the tournament, earning 6.9/10 for a matured performance that focused on playmaking and led to the penalty.

Analysing the game, several key takeaways emerged. The VAR drama, stemming from FIFA’s trial of a new rule allowing coaches two requests for intervention per game, played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s equalizer. Coach Zubairu's successful request in the 85th minute highlighted the impact of this new technology. Secondly, Nigeria's profligacy in front of goal remains a significant concern. Despite an abundance of talent, the team consistently struggles with finishing, evidenced by hitting the crossbar three times against Colombia, a recurring issue from earlier matches against Norway and Saudi Arabia. This will need to be addressed if they are to defeat Argentina in the next round.

Thirdly, a dependence on set-pieces has become apparent. Out of Nigeria's four goals in three games in Chile, only one has come from open play, relying heavily on penalties and free-kicks. While set-pieces are vital, an over-reliance could be risky in a tournament setting. Finally, Daniel Bameyi has proven to be a reliable captain. Despite not being the most agile or technically astute centre-back, his willingness and mental fortitude to score two game-deciding penalties—against Saudi Arabia and Colombia—underscore his leadership when the team faces adversity.

Looking ahead, Nigeria, alongside France, South Korea, and Spain, advances as one of the four best third-placed teams from the group stage. The Flying Eagles are now set to face Group D winners Argentina, one of the tournament’s in-form sides, in what is anticipated to be a blockbuster tie on October 8. Nigeria joins South Africa and Morocco as Africa’s surviving representatives in the knockout stages.