Nigeria’s Flamingoes today achieved their best-ever performance at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, a third-place finish, but it was not before a late scare from a comebacking Germany at Navi Mumbai.
It is the best performance by an African team, which was first achieved by Ghana in 2012.
Our Flamingos’ celebration after a historic bronze win in India! 😁
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) October 30, 2022
Thanks for your support 💓#U17WWC | #KickOffTheDream| #SoarFlamingos pic.twitter.com/LlOKIEN6of
They previously reached the quarterfinal on three occasions – 2010, 2012 and 2014.
The Flamingoes led by a comfortable 3-0 after 62 minutes, only for Germany to stage a remarkable fight back to draw 3-3 by additional time and take this third-place game into a penalty shootout.
Goalkeeper Faith Omilana was the star for Nigeria to triumph 3-2 on penalties to finish as the third best team in the world at this level.
Germany had a goal disallowed in the fourth minute after a VAR review showed the Nigerian goalkeeper was fouled before the goal.
They then had an effort smash against the crossbar in the 11th minute, before fast and powerful Opeyemi Ajakaye put Nigeria ahead in the 20th minute, when she drove through the opposing defence to get her first goal at the World Cup.
Fellow striker Amina Bello then saw her shot come off the crossbar in the 21st minute, but she finally got on the scoreboard in the 48th minute when she headed home from a cross.
Substitute Edidong Etim extended Nigeria’s lead in the 62nd minute, when she fired home off a rebound from a corner.
Thereafter, the European champions chased the game and were rewarded with their own three goals to drag the game into a penalty shootout.
