Nigeria’s U-17 Women’s National Team, the Flamingos, saw their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup journey come to an end after a 2-0 defeat to the United States in the quarterfinals on Saturday in the Dominican Republic.
The match was a highly anticipated rematch of the 2022 quarterfinal, where Nigeria triumphed on penalties. This time, however, the U.S. team came out on top, advancing to the semifinals for the first time since 2008.
Kennedy Fuller gave the U.S. the lead just before halftime with a well-taken penalty in the 43rd minute, following a VAR-confirmed foul inside the box. Nigeria pressed for an equalizer early in the second half, but U.S. goalkeeper Evan Osteen denied a great chance from Taiwo Afolabi.
In the 74th minute, Kimmi Ascanio secured the win with a composed finish, breaking through Nigeria’s high defensive line. The Flamingos, who topped their group with victories over New Zealand, Ecuador, and hosts Dominican Republic, fought hard but couldn’t replicate their bronze-winning performance from the 2022 edition.
Despite the disappointment, Nigeria’s young team leaves with valuable experience and looks ahead to future success, with the next tournament scheduled for 2025 in Morocco.
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