In a nail-biting penalty shootout, Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, defeated the United States to go to the U-17 Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time in India.
After the full time score was tied at 1-1, the young Nigerian ladies won on a 4-3 penalty shootout.
Since the competition was originally held in 2008, the Flamingos had regularly failed to go past the final eight, but with the tough victory, Bankole Olowookere’s team broke the curse to advance to the cadet tournament’s final four.
Omamuzo Edafe’s penalty-kick conversion gave the Flamingos the lead in the 27th minute, but an Amelia Villarreal shot that was deflected inside the box gave the Americans the equalizer in the 40th.
The USA will relentlessly press the Flamingos in the second half. The USA camped in a few different spots during the Flamingos’ onslaught.
There would be no extra time after the game’s 1-1 draw since they would instead shoot penalties.
The winner of the other quarterfinal contest between Tanzania and Columbia will play the Flamingos.
