Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNationalNigeria’s Flamingoes edge Colombia for quarter final

Nigeria’s Flamingoes edge Colombia for quarter final

Nigerian-girls-celebrate
Nigeria’s Flamingoes have qualified for the quarter finals of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup tournament in Costa Rica, after coming from behind to beat Colombia 2-1. Nigeria had earlier beaten China in their first group game by the same margin. Needing all three points to stay alive in Group D, Colombia burst out of the blocks with a third minute goal as Angie Rodriguez looped a header from a perfect Nancy Acosta cross over the head of stranded goalkeeper Onyinyechukwu Okeke.

Nigeria drew level just past the midway point of the opening half with Joy Bokiri curling in a perfectly flighted free-kick from the edge of the penalty area, FIFA.com reports. Nigeria took the lead for the first time approaching the hour mark as some sloppy marking from a corner allowed the tall figure of Uchenna Kanu to nod the ball in unchallenged at the back post. Midfielder Ihuoma Onyebuchi then rattled the Colombia crossbar with a first time strike from distance with the South Americans increasingly on the back foot. Colombia goalkeeper Monica Florez memorably pulled off four successive blocks during one almighty goalmouth scramble as they desperately hung on. The win leaves Nigeria sharing top spot with Mexico, while Colombia will now tackle China PR with each seeking their maiden points of the competition. Both Nigeria and Mexico automatically qualified from their group.

RELATED ARTICLES
- Advertisment -

Most Popular

Join our WhatsApp Group