Nigeria’s Flamingoes on Friday advanced to the semi final stage of the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.
The Oloworeke side defeated United State of America (USA) 4-3 via penalty after both side played a 1-1 draw in the regulation time.
Onamuzo Edafe gave Nigeria the lead in the 25th minute via a spot kick after VAR review confirmed a foul on Amina Bello.
The Americans equalised in the 40th minute through Amalia Martina Villarreal’s strike.
Both teams fought gamely in a battling second half, and the Americans were denied by Nigeria’s stout defending once more when Miracle Usani heaved the ball away.
This was after Omilana had been drawn out by Gamero Onyeka with six minutes left.
The game went straight into a penalty kicks shootout after regulation time, with Edidiong Etim, Immaculata Offiong, Usani and Edafe scoring for Nigeria while defender Comfort Folorunsho missed her kick.
Her miss did not matter though, as Emri sent her kick wide and substitute goalkeeper Linda Jiwuaku saved from Bhuta to give Nigeria the day.
Victory somewhat recreated the events of July 25 2010 in Augsburg, Germany when the Nigerian U20 girls defeated their U.S. counterparts 4-2 in a penalty kicks shootout.
This was after a 1-1 draw in a FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup quarter-final match.
Flamingos will now take on the winners of the encounter between Colombia and Tanzania in the semi-finals.