Nigeria’s Flamingos have exited the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup following a 0-2 defeat to the United States in a quarterfinal clash held on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
The game was a rematch of their 2022 quarterfinal encounter, which the Flamingos won on penalties in India, but this time, the USA came out on top to end Nigeria’s impressive run in the tournament.
The quarterfinal saw both teams engage in a tense and competitive affair, with the USA adopting a defensive approach early on. The Flamingos, led by head coach Bankole Olowookere, controlled possession and sought to break through the American defense. However, the USA held firm and were awarded a penalty in the 40th minute after a Nigerian defender was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.
Kennedy Fuller stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick, giving the USA a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Nigeria came out strong in the second half, applying pressure on the USA defense in search of an equalizer. Despite their best efforts, the Flamingos struggled to create clear-cut chances, with the Americans maintaining their defensive discipline.
As the Flamingos pressed forward, they left gaps at the back, which the USA capitalized on. In the 74th minute, Kennedy Fuller played a crucial role once again, providing an assist for Kimmi Acsanio, who calmly slotted home to double the USA’s advantage.
Olowookere made several substitutions to add fresh legs to the Flamingos’ attack, but the Nigerian girls could not find a way past the resilient USA defense. The match ended 0-2 in favor of the Americans, sealing Nigeria’s exit from the tournament.
With the victory, the USA booked their place in the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the North Korea vs. Poland quarterfinal tie. Despite their exit, the Flamingos can take pride in their performance, having won all three of their group stage matches before falling short in the knockout stage.
The Flamingos will now return home, reflecting on a tournament where they showed promise but ultimately fell short in their quest for the trophy.