Recently updated on October 30th, 2022 at 02:02 am
Nigeria’s Flamingos have qualified for its first-ever semifinals at the 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in India after defeating USA in the quarter-finals.
The team is also the first African team to reach the semifinals of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria’s Flamingos defeated USA on penalties on October 21, 2022 and would play against Colombia in the semifinals on October 26, 2022.
After 90 minutes of football had ended 1-1, the game with the USA team was decided via penalty shootout with the Flamingos triumphing 4-3 to qualify for a first-ever semi-final place.
Omamuzo Edafe gave the Flamingos the lead in the 27th minute from the penalty spot, following a foul on Amina Bello inside the box.
With five minutes left in the first half USA equalized thanks to Amalica Villarreal.
With both teams failing to find the winner in the second half the game went into penalties with the Americans missing twice and the Flamingos missed one of theirs.
And Edafe converted the winning spot kick to send Nigeria into the last four of the 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
It can be recalled that Nigeria is also the only African country to have played in the Final of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup. The first time was in Germany in 2010, when the Falconets lost 0-2 to Germany after an early goal by Player of the Tournament Alexander Popp and an unfortunate own goal by defender Osinachi Ohale in Bielefeld.
The second time was in Canada in 2014, when the Germans again prevailed by the odd goal after extra time in Montreal.
