Nigeria’s Falconets produced a stunning response when their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign was on the line, crushing New Caledonia 10-1 on Sunday to book their place in the Round of 16 in Poland.
Needing victory after taking just one point from their opening two Group F matches, Nigeria delivered their most devastating attacking performance of the tournament, turning what had been a difficult campaign into a place in the knockout stage.
The result was also historic, with the 10-1 scoreline representing Nigeria’s biggest victory in the history of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The Falconets had entered the decisive fixture under considerable pressure after opening their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Spain before being held to a goalless draw by China PR.
But a Nigerian side that had failed to score in its opening 180 minutes suddenly found its attacking touch when it mattered most.
Ramotalahi Kareem broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 17th minute before Rebecca Adegbemile doubled Nigeria’s advantage just two minutes later.
Janet Seimeyeha Akekoromowei made it 3-0 in the 23rd minute, while Kareem grabbed her second four minutes later as the Falconets raced into a commanding four-goal advantage inside the opening half-hour.
Nigeria refused to take their foot off the pedal after the interval.
Winner Onajite David struck in the 60th minute before Kareem completed her hat-trick four minutes later to make it 6-0.
Tosin Rafiu joined the scoring in the 70th minute, while Adegbemile completed her brace four minutes later.
David then struck again in the 75th minute before completing her own hat-trick deep into stoppage time.
New Caledonia managed a consolation through Joceline Kourevi in the 89th minute, but it did little to take the shine off a remarkable Nigerian performance.
Kareem and David finished with hat-tricks, while Adegbemile contributed two goals as the Falconets transformed a campaign that had appeared in danger of ending at the group stage.
The emphatic victory secured second place in Group F and passage to the Round of 16.
It represented a dramatic turnaround for a team that had arrived at the final group fixture without a victory or a goal.
Nigeria had begun the tournament with defeat against Spain before taking a point against China, leaving their qualification hopes resting heavily on the final encounter.
New Caledonia, meanwhile, had already endured a difficult debut campaign. They suffered a 5-0 defeat to China in their opening match before losing 11-0 to Spain, and Nigeria ensured there would be no late recovery for the tournament newcomers.
For the Falconets, progression maintains a proud record at this level.
Nigeria have participated in every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 2002 and have twice reached the final, finishing runners-up in 2010 and 2014.
The focus now shifts immediately to the knockout stage, where there will be no margin for error.
But after entering Sunday’s contest with their World Cup future hanging in the balance, the Falconets could hardly have produced a more emphatic response.
From no goals in their opening two matches to 10 in one afternoon, Nigeria have rediscovered their scoring touch at precisely the right time — and their World Cup journey is alive again.
