‘Bring on Argentina!’: Flying Eagles Coach Zubair Confident Ahead of Round of 16 Clash

Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubair has boldly declared his team’s readiness to face Argentina in the Round of 16, following a dramatic 1-1 draw against Colombia that secured Nigeria’s progression as one of the best third-placed teams at the ongoing tournament.

‘Bring on Argentina!’ Zubair exclaimed after the match. ‘It wasn’t easy, but we stood our ground and were proactive. We knew they are 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 Argentina.’

The encounter in Talca was a pulsating affair, with Nigeria needing at least a point to stay in contention. Colombia, already assured of qualification, topped Group F, while Nigeria sat third, narrowly ahead of Australia. That equation remained unchanged at full time, but not without drama.

Nigeria came close to scoring multiple times, hitting the post early and rattling the crossbar twice. A barrage of shots tested Colombian goalkeeper Jordan Garcia, who delivered a standout performance to keep his side in the game.

On the other end, 15-year-old Ebenezer Harcourt, already capped at senior level, impressed with his composure, though he was eventually beaten by a clinical strike from Kener Gonzalez six minutes into the second half.

Just when it seemed Colombia would snatch all three points, Daniel Bameyi stepped up to convert a late penalty, his second in as many matches, securing the crucial draw that propelled Nigeria into the knockout stage.

The Flying Eagles now prepare to face Argentina, the same side they eliminated at this stage two years ago. Meanwhile, Colombia will take on South Africa in their own Round of 16 fixture.