By Fakande Oluwamayowa
Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubair, has expressed delight over his team’s qualification for the knockout stage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup after a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Colombia on Monday.
Colombia took the lead in the 51st minute through Kener Gonzalez, but Nigeria’s Daniel Bameyi equalized from the penalty spot in the 86th minute to secure the crucial point.
With the result, the Flying Eagles advanced to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams and will face Group D winners, Argentina, on Wednesday in Santiago.
Speaking after the match, Zubair commended his players for their resilience and tactical discipline against a tough Colombian side.
“It wasn’t easy, but we stood our ground and were proactive,” he said. “We knew they were physically strong and good on the ball, so we tried to block their passing lanes and that gave us a little edge. All we wanted was to qualify for the next round, and we’re not worried about who we have to face next.”
