He scored the very first Faroese goal after FIFA recognition, in a game, which also turned out to be the first ever official victory for the Faroe Islands, winning 1–0 in a friendly over Canada in April 1989.
Torkil claimed his place in world football history for his goal in the 1992 European championship qualifying shock 1–0 defeat of Austria in September 1990, which also was the Faroe Islands' first competitive match.
[1] During and after his football career, Torkil Nielsen plays chess with the club Sandavágs talvfelag.
He is a defender for NSÍ Runavík football club and represented Faroes at U-19 level.
[6] His younger son, Høgni Egilstoft Nielsen, was considered among the most promising chess players of Scandinavia in his age group.