The Nigerian Under-17 Women’s National Team, the Flamingos, have advanced to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India after defeating the USA 4-3 on penalties on Friday afternoon, reports Sports247.ng.
The game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. The start of the game was delayed for more than an hour due to rain and lightning.
Head coach Bankole Olowookere named the same starting eleven that defeated Chile 2-1 in their last group game on Monday in Bhubaneswar.
Nigeria took the lead inside Mumbai’s D Y Patil Sports Stadium in the 26th minute from a penalty kick. Winger Amina Bello was adjudged to have been fouled inside the USA’s box following a VAR review. Right-back Edafe Omamuzo stepped up to coolly convert the penalty kick, giving Nigeria the lead.
The Americans equalized in the 40th minute through a strike from Amalia Villarreal, although the ball took a heavy deflection off Nigeria’s Comfort Folorunsho before finding its way to the back of the net. The first half ended 1-1.
The Americans attacked fiercely to start the second half, but the Flamingos had to put in a lot of defensive effort to repel them. The game went straight to penalties, with neither team able to find a winner in 90 minutes.
Nigeria won 4-3 on penalties to advance beyond the last eight of the Women’s U17 World Cup for the first time. They will play the winner of Colombia vs Tanzania in the semi-finals on Wednesday, 26 October.
