The Flying Eagles of Nigeria kept their U20 World Cup campaign alive with a thrilling 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia in a Group F clash at the Fiscal Stadium in Chile on Friday.

Captain Daniel Bameyi was the hero, calmly slotting home a stoppage-time penalty to seal the hard-fought victory in a match where Nigeria twice gave up the lead.

Aliyu Zubair’s men, still reeling from their opening defeat to Norway, started brightly and took the lead through Nasiru Salihu. However, the Saudis equalized when Nigeria’s defence failed to deal with a long ball, allowing Amar Al-Ayuba to pounce and level at 1-1 in the 21st minute.

Nigeria quickly restored their advantage with a clever free-kick routine that ended in Amos Ochoche’s mishit delivery looping into the far corner, sending the Flying Eagles into halftime 2-1 up.

But just five minutes into the second half, another lapse at the back proved costly as Talal Haji’s looping header beat goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt to make it 2-2.

Saudi Arabia nearly went ahead soon after when yet another long punt forward struck the post. Nigeria, however, regained control and kept pushing, eventually forcing a decisive handball in the box deep into stoppage time.

Bameyi stepped up with composure, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to secure all three points and reignite Nigeria’s knockout-stage hopes.

The victory lifts the Flying Eagles to third place in Group F with three points, one behind leaders Colombia and second-placed Norway.

Nigeria will now face Colombia in their final group match on October 6, a fixture that could decide their fate in the competition.