Today the Flamingoes qualified for their fourth U17 Women’s World Cup quarterfinal after they beat Chile 2-1 in a final Group B match in Bhubaneswar, India.
Nigeria thus finished second behind group winners Germany on six points from three matches.
The Flamingoes have previously reached the quarterfinal in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
They will now await the winners of Group A, which is likely to be between USA and Brazil, for Friday’s quarterfinal.
Skipper Blessing Emmanuel put Nigeria in front as early as the fourth minute, when she fired home from the top of the box after she was set up by Opeyemi Ajakaye.
Nigeria had to wait till the 82nd to double their lead through Bisola Mosaku.
Chile pulled a goal back from a penalty after VAR intervention in the 90th minute.
The Flamingoes dominated and should have killed off the game long before they did due to some wayward finishing or the brilliance of the opposing goalkeeper.
Amina Bello was denied a goal in the 70th minute by the diving Chile goalkeeper.
Three minutes later, Ajakaye was unlucky not to finally get her name on the scoreboard when her rasping effort came off the crossbar.
Bello then forced a good save from the goalkeeper in the 79th minute.
Chile then made it more like a contest in the closing minutes, when they had pulled a goal back and pushed for another to at least get a draw.
