By Akinwale Kasali
Goals from Oluebube Umejiaku and Mary Dunstan gave the Flamingos of Nigeria victory against Mexico in their Round of 16 victory, despite a late goal from Emily Delgado that threatened to set up a tense finish.
The Nigerian side has, therefore, secured a 2-1 victory to book a place in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The victory on Thursday extended the Flamingos impressive recovery from an opening-day defeat to Poland.
Recall that the Flamingos began their campaign with a 2-1 opening loss to Poland but responded with a 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico before producing one of the tournament’s biggest surprises by defeating defending champions North Korea 3-1.
Umejiaku broke the deadlock in the 39th minute after the North Americans had resisted a barrage of Nigerian attacks.
The forward capitalised on a defensive error, collected the ball inside the box and finished past goalkeeper Ania López to give Nigeria the lead.
The goal was reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) following a challenge involving Tosin Rafiu and Zoe Sánchez earlier in the move, but the referee upheld the decision.
Nigeria continued to press after the break, and Dunstan doubled the advantage in the 70th minute.
The midfielder reacted quickest after substitute Precious Oscar’s effort was punched away by López, collecting the rebound before lifting her shot over the goalkeeper and into the net.
VAR officials reviewed the goal for a possible foul by Oscar in the build-up but ruled that it should stand.
Mexico mounted a late push, with Delgado pulling one back in the second minute of added time after controlling a loose ball following a corner and firing into the net.
However, the goal came too late to inspire a comeback as the Flamingos held on to secure their place in the last eight.
The victory over Mexico continues a campaign in which the Flamingos have demonstrated their ability to recover from disappointment.
After losing to Poland in their opening Group B fixture, Nigeria defeated Puerto Rico through goals from Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and Precious Oscar.
Their most significant group-stage result followed against North Korea, the two-time defending champions, whom they beat 3-1.
Adegbuyi opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Umejiaku doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 38th minute. Kanyinsola Rodiat Yusuf added a third with a free-kick in the 56th minute, while North Korea scored a late penalty.
The result ended North Korea’s 18-match unbeaten run in regulation time at the competition and secured Nigeria’s passage to the knockout stage.
The Flamingos finished second in Group B with six points, having scored six goals and conceded four across their three group matches.
Their recovery from the defeat to Poland has now carried them through the Round of 16, leaving them two victories away from a place in the final.
Following the victory over the Mexican team, the Flamingos will will face Venezuela in the quarter-finals on Sunday, November 1, after the South Americans eliminated Germany with a 1-0 victory in their Round of 16 encounter.
Venezuela scored through Diana Bravo in the fifth minute and held on despite Germany’s efforts to find an equaliser.
The fixture will present Nigeria with another test as they seek to advance to the semi-finals and improve on their third-place finish at the 2022 edition in India.
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