Coach Aliyu Zubairu has commended Flying Eagles for their resilience and tactical discipline following their dramatic comeback 1-1 draw against Colombia to book their Round of 16 ticket at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Chile.
The Flying Eagles displayed character after trailing by a goal in the 51st minute when Kener Gonzalez swept the ball in off an assist by Neyser Villareal but bounced four minutes left with a vital equaliser from the spot by captain Daniel Bameyi .
“We knew Colombia were a physically fit side, but we trusted our plan,” Zubairu said in his post-match analysis. “In the second half, we denied them passing opportunities, which gave us an edge and led to the penalty we converted. The boys showed great spirit, fought hard, and deserved the result.”
Zubairu credited the team’s collective mind set and commitment as their biggest weapon heading into the knockout stages with a date against six-time youth champions Argentina in Santiago on Tuesday with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. local time(12:30am Nigerian time on Wednesday)
“We’re not afraid of Argentina. It won’t be easy, but this team has heart, hunger, and belief. We’ll give everything to make Nigeria proud,” he said confidently.
Meanwhile, AS Trencin striker Suleiman Sanni, who has been one of Nigeria’s standout performers in the group stage, will miss the Argentina clash due to yellow-card accumulation. Despite the setback, Sanni voiced full faith in his teammates’ ability to rise to the challenge.
“Of course, I’m sad I won’t play the next match, but I trust my brothers. We’ve come too far to stop now,” Sanni said. “These boys have fire in them — we fight for each other, and that’s what makes us strong.”
Reflecting on their journey so far, Sanni praised his coach and teammates for their determination and togetherness.
“We have no fear. We respect every opponent, but we play with confidence. The coach told us to stay calm and believe in our plan — and it worked perfectly,” he added.
Even from the sidelines, Sanni vowed to continue being a source of motivation.
“I’ll cheer louder than anyone. I believe in this team. We’re ready for Argentina, and we’ll give everything to keep our dream alive,” he said passionately.
With unity, belief, and momentum on their side, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles march into their next challenge — fully aware that discipline and teamwork could be the keys to another famous victory.
ALL THE SECOND ROUND FIXTURES
07-10-2025: Chile vs Mexico – Valparaiso ; Ukraine vs Spain – Valparaiso
08-10-2025: Argentina vs Nigeria – Santiago ; Colombia vs South Africa – Talca; Paraguay vs Norway – Talca; Japan vs France – Santiago
09-10-2025: USA vs Italy – Rancagua ; Morocco vs South Korea – Rancagua
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have secured their place in the Round of 16 at the ongoing 24th FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, following a hard-fought 1–1 draw against Colombia in the early hours of Monday.
The seven-time African champions showed resilience and determination at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca. Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt was instrumental in keeping the match level early on, making vital saves in the 23rd and 26th minutes.
While Colombia applied pressure in the opening stages, the Nigerians responded with a more adventurous approach. Tahir Maigana, Kparobo Arierhi, and Suleman Sani created numerous chances, even hitting the woodwork multiple times.
Colombia found the breakthrough in the 51st minute when Kener Gonzalez slotted home after a smart assist from Neyser Villareal. But the Flying Eagles refused to be rattled and ramped up the intensity. Defender Odinaka Okoro nearly equalized with a powerful header in the 76th minute.
The equalizer finally came in the 86th minute. A Colombian handball inside the box—following a goal-bound effort from Maigana—led to a penalty, which was confidently converted by captain Daniel Bameyi. Nigeria almost snatched a dramatic winner in the 89th minute, but Arierhi’s shot was blocked in a crowded box.
With the draw, Nigeria advance to face tournament hosts Argentina at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Santiago on Wednesday.
The match will rekindle memories of their quarter-final clash in the previous edition, where the Flying Eagles defeated Argentina 2–0 in San Juan.
Meanwhile, Colombia will face South Africa, while Norway is set to take on Paraguay in the other Round of 16 fixtures.
The Flying Eagles were unlucky to lose 1-0 to Norway in their opening match of the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup finals on Monday despite dominating play and creating a hatful of chances, particularly in the second period.
Norway went ahead after they were awarded a contested penalty in the 9th minute, but the Flying Eagles fought hard to redeem things, only to be denied penalty awards on two occasions in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi’s left-footed shot inside the box drifted just wide in the 47th minute, with the goalkeeper completely beaten, and in the 63rd minute, Tahir Maigana’s left-footed shot inside the box was stopped by the base of the upright.
The two-time silver medallists launched onslaught after onslaught against the Europeans, but Norway had too many players behind the ball in the box and foiled dozens of attempts.
In the 71st minute, the crowd rose to cheer the equalizer, but midfielder Nasiru Salihu’s rising shot from the right rose a little too high, beating the goalkeeper and the crossbar.
Seven minutes from time, the tireless Tahir Maigana cocked the trigger from afar, only to see his effort miss the target narrowly.
The Flying Eagles will take on Saudi Arabia in their second match of the competition on Thursday.
The Flying Eagles will head out of the dugout against Norway tonight at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca for the first time ever in the history of the tournament.
Two-time finalists in Saudi Arabia in 1989 and in Holland in 2005, the West African giants will be making their 14th appearance in the competition that commenced as FIFA U21 Youth Tournament in Tunisia in 1977.
On the other hand, their Scandinavian counterparts will step on to the field for only the third time in the history of the championship. This will be the first-ever meeting between these two sides at the U20 level. The Flying Eagles are far ahead of the Norwegians considering their pedigree in this tournament.
Nigeria sealed their qualification to Chile after finishing third, with the bronze medals, during the Africa U20 Cup of Nations finals in Egypt. Buoyed by their 1-1 draw against host nation Chile and 3-1 win over Australia in preparatory friendlies for the tournament, the Flying Eagles are brimming with confidence ahead of Monday’s encounter with Norway. The squad is made up of a blend of home boys and Europe-based players.
Fortunately, the Aliyu Zubair-led squad will be banking on the experience of team Captain, Daniel Bameyi and midfielder Daniel Daga who were part of the immediate past team that reached the quarter-final stage in Argentina in 2023.
The seven-time African champions will aim for victory as they want to kick off their campaign with a win at Estadio Fiscal de Talca on Monday, starting 5pm Chile time (9pm in Nigeria).
Arierhi outlined the team’s preparation and mindset ahead of the competition.
“It has been really good. The boys and I are really preparing and doing our best, trying to learn new things in training which we can execute in the tournament.
“I strongly believe that we are ready for this and can give our best and do what we know how to do best,” he said.
Few teams in world football carry the weight of expectation at youth level quite like Nigeria’s Flying Eagles. For over four decades, they have thrilled fans with flair, resilience and have served as grooming ground of talent that has produced global stars. Yet, amid the glittering alumni and near-misses on the big stage, one prize remains stubbornly out of reach: the FIFA U-20 World Cup. As the class of 2025 jets into Chile for the 24th edition of the tournament, hope and history collide once more. Can this group, led by the fearless Daniel Bameyi and guided by the steady hand of coach Aliyu Zubairu, finally end Nigeria’s wait? TUNDE LIADI reports…
When the FIFA U-20 World Cup kicks off in Chile on September 27, 2025, all eyes in Nigeria will once again turn to the Flying Eagles. The seven-time African champions arrive with pedigree, belief and the lingering dream of lifting the one trophy that has long eluded them.
Since their debut in 1983, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been a permanent fixture at this level, and will make a record 14th appearances — more than any other African nation when the upcoming edition kicks off in Chile in a few days.
Their finest hours came in 1989 in Saudi Arabia, where a side complete with Nduka Ugbade, a FIFA U-16 World Cup-winning captain and Christopher Ohenhen, a striking phenomenon had some heroic performances including the famous ‘Dammam Miracle’ where they bounced from a 4-0 deficit to beat the former Soviet Union (USSR) 5-3 on penalties en route to the final after only to be edged 2-0 by Portugal.
Nigeria nearly made the mark yet again in 2005 in Holland, when a team powered by John Obi Mikel and Taye Taiwo , finished as runners-up to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Quarter-final exits in 2023 (to South Korea in extra time) and in several earlier editions have cemented Nigeria’s reputation as perennial contenders who too often fall just short. So much so that the challenge in Chile is not just to participate but to finally cross the line.
Incidentally, Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s squad concluded a 12-day camp in Santiago, Chile fine-tuning their strategy with high-profile friendlies. A 1–1 draw against hosts Chile showed resilience while a commanding 3–1 victory over Australia — with goals from Tahir Maigana, Achihi Oseer, and Charles Agada — underlined attacking promise.
The preparations were not without setbacks. Defender Freedom Marvelous was ruled out with a knee injury, replaced by Haruna Aliyu of Wikki Tourists.
But the mood in camp remains upbeat with Zubairu oozing with confidence as he reflected on the two pre-tournament’s friendly matches.
“We have gone a long way. Like you mentioned, the two matches that we played, I think the outcome or the result of the matches is not even what matters to us,” Zubairu said in an interview with Premium Times.
He continued: “What matters most is for us to identify where our problems are and to work on them. Where the deficiencies are, to work on them, which we are able to detect.
“If you see our match against Chile, we noticed a lot of deficiencies and we worked on them. And we realised against Australia, the corrections we made, they really worked. And we see improvement in the correction.
“The matches, the two matches are going to give us confidence, and it’s going to give us bearing for us to approach the World Cup proper. We really gained one or two things from the matches.”
“We’ve prepared well, and even though losing Marvelous is unfortunate, the squad remains focused.”
Zubairu further enthused that the Flying Eagles have overcome their goal scoring problems which plagued their campaign at the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
“Yes, compared to what happened in AFCON, there’s a lot of improvement. The four goals we have scored here (in Santiago), you can see that different players scored the four goals. Which was not like that in AFCON; our attacks were not biting at all during AFCON,” offered Zubairu. “But from the two matches we have played, we have seen a lot of improvement. The attack is biting better now, and we are exploiting all the spaces in the final third of the opponent.
“I believe that, before the World Cup proper, the little time we have, we are still going to work more on it. And I believe we are going to get it better during the World Cup proper,” he added.
Similarly Speaking from Santiago, Skipper Daniel Bameyi, already capped by the Super Eagles, embodies Nigeria’s hunger for glory in Chile where illustrious predecessors flatly faltered in 1987 despite oozing with talented players including the likes of Etim Esin, Ladi Babalola, Adekola and company.
“If we maintain belief, discipline and a positive attitude in every match, no obstacle is too big. We are not here merely to participate. Why not us? The dream is alive,” the Bayelsa United defender declared, praising the balance of Zubair’s tactical approach — defensive solidity mixed with attacking ambition.
Nigeria will play all their group matches at the Estadio Fiscal in Talca, beginning against Norway (September 29), before facing Saudi Arabia (October 2) and Colombia (October 5). With only the top two guaranteed progression, plus four of the best third-placed teams, margins will be tight.
Norway’s physicality, Saudi Arabia’s discipline and Colombia’s flair make Group F a minefield. But history shows Nigeria thrive in such competitive environments.
The Flying Eagles travel to Chile not just with youthful energy but also with a weight of expectation.
“Our goal is not just to participate but to surpass our past performances,” Zubair added.
For Nigeria, the wait for a first U-20 World Cup crown continues. But in Chile, belief burns bright that the Flying Eagles can finally soar highest.
FIVE FLYING EAGLES TO THRILL IN CHILE:
Daniel Bameyi (Defender, Bayelsa United): Inspirational captain, dominant in the air, and leader of the back line.
Daniel Daga (Midfielder, Molde FK, Norway): Calm orchestrator, vital in transitions, with European experience to steady the midfield.
Kparobo Arierhi (Forward, Lillestrom SK, Norway): Prolific finisher whose movement and eye for goal make him Nigeria’s main attacking threat.
Abdullahi Shitu Ele (Forward, Manchester City): The wildcard; if he finds rhythm, Nigeria could have the firepower to match any side.
Ebenezer Harcourt (Goalkeeper, Sporting Lagos): Promising shot-stopper expected to shoulder responsibility between the posts.
The Flying Eagles arrived in the city of Talca on Thursday afternoon ahead of their participation in this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals. Group F games involving Nigeria, Norway, Saudi Arabia and Colombia will take place in Talca.
The two-time World Cup runners-up were received by officials of FIFA and the Local Organizing Committee, as well as officials of the hotel. The team later trained in the evening.
The Flying Eagles are lodged at Hotel Diego de Almagro in Talca. The team wrapped up a 12-day training camp in Santiago, where they played host nation Chile and Australia as part of the build-up to the FIFA U20 World Cup, which kicks off on Saturday, 27th September.
In their friendly matches, the Flying Eagles played a 1-1 draw with host nation Chile, before defeating Australia 3-1 in Santiago on Tuesday.
Nigeria open their campaign for honours in this year’s edition with a game against Norway on Monday, 29th September at Estadio Fiscal
Captain Daniel Bameyi has expressed the readiness of the Flying Eagles ahead of the 24th FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, which kicks off on September 27.
Speaking on the team’s preparations, Bameyi said the coach Aliyu Zubairu-led side has all it takes to progress beyond the group stage, stressing that commitment and hard work will be key.
“I’m very positive that we can qualify to the next stage, the next U-20 tournaments, after the group stage, because we have everything it takes. It all depends on our level of commitment and hard work, the level of seriousness we put in our practice and training sessions,” Bameyi said.
He further emphasized the importance of teamwork as the Flying Eagles prepare to face some of the world’s best.
“We need to work on ourselves individually and collectively as a team because it’s the World Cup, where the best of the best want to show what they have. We also have to be our brother’s keeper, work for one another, because we are a nation fighting towards achieving the same goal,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles will take on their Australian counterparts in a friendly game today.
The encounter is part of both teams’ preparations for the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup finals starting in Chile on Saturday.
The match, which will be played at the Complejo Deportivo Ruca Mapu in the city of Santiago, will kick off at 5pm Chile time (1pm in Nigeria).
On Saturday, Chile’s U20 boys forced the Flying Eagles to a 1-1 draw in a friendly in Rancagua, with Ahmed Akinyele scoring for Nigeria in the 18th minute, before a 36th minute equalizer by Felipe Faúndez.
Australia will play in Group D alongside Italy, Cuba and Argentina, while Nigeria will contend with Norway, Saudi Arabia and Colombia in Group F.
Head coach of Flying Eagles Aliyu Zubairu has named his final 21-man squad for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, with the team off to Chile for a pre-tournament camp.
The squad is largely made up of players who featured at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Egypt. Regulars such as goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, skipper Daniel Bameyi, full-back Odinaka Okoro, and defender Auwal Ibrahim all made the cut.
Molde midfielder Daniel Daga, forward Charles Agada, and prolific striker Kparobo Ariehi are also included, underlining the depth of attacking options available to Zubairu.
The team and officials departed Nigeria on Sunday for a 12-day training camp in Chile after weeks of preparation in Abuja.
Drawn in Group F, the seven-time African champions will face Norway, Saudi Arabia, and Colombia in the group stage. Their opening fixture comes against Norway on Monday, September 29, followed by matches with Saudi Arabia on October 2 and Colombia on October 5.
All of the Flying Eagles’ group matches will be staged at the Estadio Fiscal in Talca, located about 250 kilometres from the Chilean capital, Santiago.
Preparations for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup have been hit by key players’ withdrawals.
French club Stade Reims and Germany’s Hoffenheim have refused to release Nigerian players for the competition, which is not on FIFA’s official calendar.
This allows clubs to withhold players from international duty.
NAN reports that Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin, both with Hoffenheim, will miss the tournament in Chile after the club turned down a request from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Ibrahim Hafiz, a striker with Stade Reims, is also unavailable after the French side declined to release him.
All three players are considered key prospects for the team.
Head coach Aliyu Zubairu has adjusted his plans and named a final 21-man squad without several overseas-based players.
Enyimba winger Clinton Jephta, along with Bidemi Amole and Divine Oliseh, who featured at the U-20 WAFU B qualifiers in Togo, were left out.
Team captain Daniel Bameyi headlines the squad. Over 10 players named have participated in recent training camps and friendly matches.
