The Flying Eagles found a way past Saudi Arabia with a 3-2 win in Talca, but the manner of the victory left more questions than answers, Footynaija.com reports.
It took a stoppage-time penalty from captain Daniel Bameyi to settle a match that often swung on lapses in concentration and individual moments rather than collective dominance.
As revealed in the match report, Nigeria opened the game with the right intent, pressing forward early and getting rewarded when Nasiru Salihu rose highest to head home in the 10th minute.
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Yet, the confidence from that start didn’t last. Saudi Arabia responded through Amar Al Yuhaybi, exploiting gaps that appeared far too easily in the Nigerian defence.
When Amos Ochoche restored the lead with a well-struck effort before half time, it looked like the Flying Eagles might finally take control. Instead, they lost grip again after the restart. Just five minutes into the second half, Talal Haji found space to level once more, exposing the soft underbelly of a back line that never looked settled.
By then, frustration was growing. The midfield struggled to impose itself, and promising attacks often fizzled out through rushed decisions. The match seemed to be slipping away into a draw until deep in added time, when Nigeria got the break they had been searching for. A late penalty was awarded, and Bameyi showed composure from the spot to rescue the three points.
CAF were quick to celebrate the drama, hailing the Flying Eagles on X (formerly Twitter) with a post that read: “They call them the Flying Eagles for a reason.”
But not every observer was convinced. One fan, replying to CAF’s post, dismissed the display outright:
“their performance were totally poor, luck pushed them to snatched the 3 points, A must win against Colombia,” he commented.
That frustration is understandable. While the result keeps Nigeria’s hopes alive in Group F after the opening loss to Norway, the performance again showed their inconsistency.
Against Colombia in their final group game, resilience alone may not be enough.
This team needs sharper defending, more composure in midfield, and less reliance on last-minute drama if they are to extend their stay in Chile.
