All we wanted was to qualify for the next round - Flying Eagles coach on U-20 World Cup mission

Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubair has expressed satisfaction after Nigeria sealed qualification to the Round of 16 at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup, following a hard-fought 1–1 draw against Colombia on Monday.

The encounter, played at the Estadio El Teniente, saw Colombia take the lead early in the second half through Kener Gonzalez, who broke the deadlock in the 51st minute.

However, Nigeria’s persistence paid off when captain Daniel Bameyi converted from the penalty spot in the 86th minute to restore parity.

The result means the Flying Eagles advanced to the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams, setting up a tough clash against Group D winners Argentina on Wednesday in Santiago.

Reacting after the match, Zubair commended his players for their resilience and tactical discipline against a physically dominant Colombian side.

“It wasn’t easy, but we stood our ground and were proactive,” the coach said.

He continued, “We knew they were physically strong and good on the ball, so we tried to deny them passing lanes, and that gave us a little edge. All we wanted was to qualify for the next round, and we are not worried about who we have to face.”

Nigeria’s draw capped off a determined group stage campaign that saw the team recover from a slow start to secure vital results when it mattered most.

The Flying Eagles will now shift focus to their Round of 16 showdown with Argentina, a fixture that promises to test the team’s defensive organisation and attacking creativity against the South American heavyweights.