Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has shared his thoughts after Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Colombia in their final group match at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup on Monday morning.
The result was enough to send Nigeria through to the Round of 16, where they will now face Argentina.
Colombia took the lead six minutes into the second half through Kener Gonzalez, but Nigeria’s captain Daniel Bameyi scored a late equaliser in the 86th minute to secure the draw.
Speaking after the game, Zubairu said the team’s main goal was to qualify for the knockout stage.
“It wasn’t easy, but we held our ground and stayed proactive,” he told FIFA.com. “We knew Colombia were physically strong and good with the ball, so we focused on cutting off their passing options. That gave us a small advantage.
“All we wanted was to reach the next round, and we’re not worried about who we have to face.”
The Flying Eagles finished third in Group F, collecting four points from three matches.