Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, on Wednesday, lost to Colombia in a penalty shootout during the competition’s semi-finals.
The Powerpuff Girls beat Flamingos to reach the final of the U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.
The game ended barren after regulation time and thus headed for the penalties. Colombia then defeated the West Africans 5-6 to grab their ticket for Sunday’s final.
The Nigerian ladies started the match on a good note, camping inside the Colombian half in the first quarter of the game. They, however, lost the dominance later with the South Americans dictating the pace, and were unlucky to rattle the woodwork in the 29th minute.
Just before half-time, they scored but the goal was chalked off for an offside in the build-up.
The Colombians continued pushing for a goal with several bouts of attack, but the Nigerians kept them at bay.
With both teams unable to score, the game headed for penalties. While Colombia lost their second kick, Edafe Omamuzo – scorer of Nigeria’s winning kick against the US – hit the woodwork in what could have been the decider.
The South Americans then scored all their penalty kicks while Comfort Folorunsho missed Nigeria’s last kick to give the Colombians victory.
En route to Wednesday’s game, Coach Bankole Olowookere’s girls won three of their four matches. They lost to Germany in their first tie before wins against New Zealand and Chile sealed their spot in the last eight.
Against the US, the team needed penalties to defeat the Americans after normal time ended 1-1.
The third-place match will be between Nigeria and the loser of the other semi-final involving Spain and Germany. That will be on Sunday. On the same day, the final of the competition is expected to hold.
