Nigeria’s🇳🇬 Super Falconets secured their place in the round of 16 at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup⚽🏆 with a dominant 4-0 victory over Venezuela🇻🇪 in their final Group D match on Saturday. The team, managed by Coach Chris Danjuma, displayed a brilliant performance, with goals from Amina Bello, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Flourish Sebastine, and Joy Igbokwe, ensuring a comfortable win.
The Falconets entered the match knowing that a win would guarantee their progression to the knockout stage after their earlier mixed results: a hard-fought 1-0 victory against South Korea🇰🇷 and a 3-1 loss to Germany🇩🇪. Their win over Venezuela sealed their spot as the second-placed team in Group D, behind Germany on goal difference, as both teams ended with six points.
How The Game Was Won
The game started energetically for Nigeria, with Chiamaka Okwuchukwu testing the Venezuelan goalkeeper in the 12th minute after a clever pass from Flourish Sebastine. Nigeria continued to press and found their breakthrough in the 16th minute when Amina Bello slotted home from Okwuchukwu’s assist.
The Falconets dominated possession and chances, with Sebastien adding the second goal in the 39th minute, her second of the tournament after scoring the winner against South Korea. Venezuela struggled to cope with Nigeria’s pace and intensity, and by the 60th minute, Joy Igbokwe made it 3-0 with a powerful strike from outside the box.
The final blow came in the 85th minute, when Okwuchukwu, who had been instrumental throughout the game, scored the fourth goal, cementing the Falconets’ place in the next round.
Round of 16
In the other Group D match, South Korea caused an upset by defeating Germany 1-0, but the Germans still topped the group with six points, thanks to a superior goal difference. South Korea finished third with four points, while Venezuela exited the tournament with just one point.
The Falconets join other powerhouses like France, hosts Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico in the round of 16, where they hope to build on their strong showing.
Coach Danjuma praised his team’s performance, particularly their resilience after the defeat to Germany. “The girls showed great character to bounce back and qualify. We are looking forward to the knockout stage with optimism,” he said during a post-match interview.
The Falconets, who have a strong track record in the U-20 Women’s World Cup, will aim to surpass their previous best of reaching the final in 2010 and 2014 as they continue their quest for Nigeria’s first-ever U-20 Women’s World Cup title.
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