The Flying Eagles edged Saudi Arabia 3-2 at the U20 World Cup in Chile to stay alive in Group F.
Captain Daniel Bameyi’s stoppage-time penalty secured Nigeria’s first win after their opening defeat.
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Saudi Arabia on Friday to revive their campaign at the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
Captain Daniel Bameyi scored a decisive penalty in stoppage time to seal all three points for Nigeria in their second Group F fixture at the Fiscal Stadium. The result came after a tense contest where the Eagles twice surrendered the lead before finding a late winner.
The match, played under the floodlights, saw Nigeria bounce back strongly from their disappointing opening defeat to Norway. Nasiru Salihu and Amos Ochoche gave the West Africans the lead on two separate occasions, but defensive errors allowed Saudi Arabia to equalize both times.
Saudi Arabia’s first equaliser came in the 21st minute when Amar Al-Ayuba punished poor defending to slot home. Just before the break, Nigeria restored their advantage through Ochoche, whose mishit cross looped over the goalkeeper into the far corner.
The Saudis struck again early in the second half, with Talal Haji heading over goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt to make it 2-2. They nearly went ahead moments later but were denied by the post.
With time running out, Nigeria pressed forward. A Saudi defender handled a cross inside the box in added time, and Bameyi calmly converted the penalty to give Nigeria a priceless win.
Group Standings
The result lifts the Flying Eagles to third place in Group F with three points, trailing Colombia and Norway, who both have four. Saudi Arabia sit bottom of the group with one point.
Nigeria will now face Colombia in their final group-stage match on October 6, needing another positive result to reach the round of 16.
The victory not only restored hope but also showcased Nigeria’s resilience after a difficult start to the tournament. With knockout qualification still in reach, Aliyu Zubair’s men must now build on this momentum in their decisive clash against Colombia.
