Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, claimed their first-ever bronze medal at the just-concluded U-17 Women’s World Cup in India on Sunday, after defeating Germany 3-2 on penalties.
The Flamingos blew a three-goal lead and allowed the Germans back into the game before playing in their third consecutive penalty shoot-out, having played against the United States of America in the quarter-finals before playing Colombia in the semis.
Head coach, Bankole Olowookere, expressed joy that the team finally won the bronze medal and left the tournament with something to show for their efforts.
“I am a very happy man; we did not leave India empty-handed. It has been a great tournament with a lot of lessons learnt. We give God the glory.”
However, it wasn’t a rollercoaster ride for the young girls who made history in India.
The PUNCH takes a look at the journey of the girls to the bronze medal finish…
Opening defeat to Germany
The Flamingos began their quest for glory at the 2022 U-17 Women’s World Cup in India against Germany in their first match at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Margao on October 11.
Despite taking the lead 30 minutes into the encounter, they lost 2-1 to the European champions.
Miracle Usani fired Flamingos in front from a free-kick after captain Alvine Dah Zossu was hacked down to put the Flamingos were in the driving seat.
The Germans grabbed the equaliser through Svea Stold in the 50th minute, before claiming the winner 10 minutes into the second half through Mara Alber.
Comeback win versus New Zealand
Knowing that only a win would keep them in the tournament, the Flamingos bounced back in style against New Zealand in their second game of the tournament.
They edged their opponents 4-1 to retain their hope and chances of making it through to the next round. Two goals in either half sealed the win and boosted their chances of advancing to the knockout stages of the competition.
The win came as a big boost as Olowookere’s side knew they needed just a draw against Chile in their last Group B game to advance to the quarter-finals, after Germany drubbed the Chileans 6-0 in the other game.
The Germans ended the group after the two games with maximum six points, while the Flamingos and Chile had three points each but the Nigerians had a superior +3 goals difference against the South Americans’ -4.
Olowookere’s girls reach q’final
Despite needing just a point to book a place in the quarter-finals, the Flamingos defeated Chile 2-1 in the third match of Group B to book their place in the last eight.
Blessing Emmanuel scored an early goal for Flamingos in the fourth minute, following an assist from Ajakaiye Opeyemi to give Nigeria the lead.
Miracle Usani grabbed the second in the 82nd minute to see Nigeria through, despite Rovemer Tali converting a late penalty for Chile.
Up next were favourites USA, the Group A winners, in the last eight at the DY Patil Stadium.
Team breaks last-eight jinx
Against all odds, Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team beat the USA in a nervy penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals of the U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time.
The young Nigerian girls triumphed on 4-3 penalties after full-time ended 1-1.
Having consistently failed to get past the last eight of the competition, Olowookere’s side flew past the free-scoring Americans, who had scored 13 goals and conceded just one goal prior to both sides meeting.
The Flamingos scored first in the 27th minute after Omamuzo Edafe converted from the penalty spot, but the Americans equalised in the 40th minute off a deflected Amelia Villarreal shot inside the box.
The game ended1-1 and the Flamingos emerged victorious via the penalty shoot-out, which they won 5-4, Edafe again converting the winning spot kick.
Colombians shoot down Flamingos
After beating US in the quarter-finals, Nigeria’s hope of reaching the final of the tournament was ended by Colombia, who triumphed 6-5 on penalties.
Comfort Folorunsho lost her sudden death penalty to hand the South Americans the winner in a match the Flamingos could hardly string three passes together.
After losing to Nigeria on two different occasions at the tournament – 2012 and 2014 – Colombia avoided a third defeat this time around against their flat-footed opponents.
But the Nigerians will be proud of themselves because it’s the farthest the team have gone at the cadet championship since the tournament’s inception in 2008.
‘Gikden Bronze’
The Flamingos claimed the bronze medal on Sunday in the third-place match after avenging their defeat against Germany, winning 3-2 on penalties.
Nigeria were up 3-0, before the Germans staged a dramatic comeback late on to tie the losers final 3-3.
The game went into penalties afterward and the Flamingos were lucky this time around to claim their first ever bronze medal at the tournament.
Ajakaye the heroine
It is a tournament to remember for forward Opeyemi Ajakaye, who claimed three player-of-the-match awards in India.
She won the first award after guiding the Flamingos past New Zealand before grabbing the second against Chile.
She added the third on Sunday after helping her side with the opening goal, to beat Germany to the bronze medal.
