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Argentina Beats Colombia 1–0 to Reach U-20 World Cup Final Against Morocco
Argentina advanced to the FIFA U-20 World Cup final after defeating Colombia 1–0 in a tight semifinal match on Wednesday night.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Mateo Silvetti scored the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute, sending Argentina to its eighth U-20 World Cup final. The South American side will face Morocco, which earlier beat France on penalties to reach its first-ever final.
The semifinal, played at Santiago’s National Stadium, was intense and physical, with both teams showing discipline in defense. Argentina dominated possession in the second half, while Colombia struggled to create clear chances.
Argentina’s winning goal came after Gianluca Prestianni delivered a well-placed cross from the right. Silvetti controlled the ball inside the box and fired a low shot past the Colombian goalkeeper to break the deadlock.
Colombia’s hopes of a comeback faded in the 79th minute when Jhon Rentería was sent off for a second yellow card. Playing with ten men, Colombia could not recover as Argentina held firm in the closing minutes.
The result sends Argentina, the most successful nation in U-20 World Cup history, into another final. The Albiceleste have won the tournament six times, with their last title coming in 2007 under coach Hugo Tocalli.
Argentina coach Diego Placente praised his players for their composure and focus in a difficult match.
“We knew Colombia would fight until the end,” Placente said after the game. “The team stayed calm, worked hard, and found the right moment to score. I’m proud of how they handled the pressure.”
Colombia coach César Torres expressed disappointment with the result but praised his team’s effort.
“We created chances but couldn’t finish,” Torres said. “The red card changed everything. Even so, I’m proud of what these young players achieved. They represented our country with courage.”
The first half offered few clear opportunities. Argentina controlled the tempo but found it difficult to break down Colombia’s compact defense. Colombia’s best chance came in the 34th minute when Yaser Asprilla’s shot from distance forced a strong save from goalkeeper Federico Gomes Gerth.
As the second half progressed, Argentina increased the pressure. Midfielders Valentin Barco and Claudio Echeverri dictated play, creating space on the wings. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 72nd minute, with Silvetti’s strike proving decisive.
Colombia, competing in only its second-ever U-20 semifinal, will now play France in the third-place match. Despite the loss, the team’s run to the last four is its best performance in a men’s FIFA tournament in more than two decades.
Morocco, Argentina’s next opponent, made history by reaching its first U-20 World Cup final. The North African side eliminated France in a dramatic penalty shootout earlier in the day. Their solid defense and counterattacking play have made them one of the surprise stories of the tournament.
The final between Argentina and Morocco will take place Sunday in Santiago. Argentina will seek its seventh title, while Morocco will aim to become the first African team to win the U-20 World Cup.
For Argentina, the match offers a chance to confirm its dominance in youth football once again. For Morocco, it represents the opportunity to make history on the world stage.
With both teams in strong form, Sunday’s final promises to be a showcase of young talent, tactical skill, and national pride — the perfect ending to a thrilling tournament.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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