Gifted Markson
Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team, the Falconets, have been eliminated from the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Japan in the quarterfinals.
The match was held at the 10,000-capacity Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogotá, Colombia, where Japan showcased their dominance.
Japan opened the scoring in the 33rd minute through Matsunaga M., giving the Asian side an early advantage. Nigeria struggled to break down Japan’s defense, and the lead was extended in the 65th minute when Hijikata M. made it 2-0.
Despite a late goal from Shobowale O. in stoppage time (90+1 minute), it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback, and the match ended 2-1 in favor of Japan, knocking the Falconets out of the tournament.
The Nigerian team’s spirited effort throughout the competition was met with disappointment, as they were unable to overcome Japan’s solid performance in front of a packed stadium.