Nigeria's U17 Women’s World Cup hopes came to an end on Saturday, as U.S.A secured a 2-0 victory in the quarterfinals at Santiago de los Caballeros. Coach Bankole Olowookere’s Flamingos, who had excelled in the group stage, struggled to overcome the American side’s clinical edge and unyielding defense.
The Flamingos had entered the knockout rounds with confidence, following a perfect group-stage record with wins over host Dominican Republic, New Zealand, and Ecuador.
Joining Spain and Korea DPR as the only teams to claim all nine points from the first round, the Nigerian girls were eager to extend their journey. Yet, facing a U.S. team in pursuit of their first-ever U17 Women’s World Cup title, Nigeria's promising run met a formidable challenge.
A bright start and missed opportunities
Nigeria looked to gain early control, testing U.S. goalkeeper Evan O’Steen in the 9th minute with a speculative long-range effort from Chidi, though it lacked the power to make an impact. Goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma then kept Nigeria in the game, delivering a vital save in the 28th minute to deny Mary Long.
But the Americans broke through just before halftime. A foul by Shakirat Moshood led to a penalty in the 40th minute, which Kennedy Fuller confidently converted to give America. a 1-0 lead.
Just before the break, Uzoma and Nigeria’s backline defended desperately, with Uzoma making crucial stops to keep the Flamingos within reach.
Second-half frustrations and the final blow
In the 63rd minute, Taiwo Afolabi had a chance to equalize after maneuvering past the U.S. defense. Her shot, however, was blocked by O’Steen, leaving the Flamingos searching for answers.
The U.S. capitalized on another opportunity, with Kimmi Ascanio slipping a precise shot past Uzoma to double the lead. While Uzoma continued to stand strong, an offside call denied Micayla Johnson’s late effort.
The USA advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2008 while Nigeria exited the competition in the quarterfinals for the fourth time in seven appearances.
