Nigeria’s Flamingos defeated Germany on penalty shootout to pick up the bronze medal at the 2022 U-17 women’s World Cup in India on Sunday, Completesports.com reports.
The Flamingos surrendered a 3-0 lead to the Germans but went on to win 3-2 in the shootout.
The Germans missed three of their efforts while the Flamingos saw one of their effort saved.
Opeyemi Ajakaye, Aminat Bello and Edidiong Etim were the scorers for Nigeria while Jella Viet, Paulina Platiner and Loreen Bender netted for the European U-17 champions.
Recall the Germans came from a goal down to beat the Flamingos 2-1 in their opening game in the tournament.
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Germany thought they had taken the lead in the fifth minute but after VAR check the goal was disallowed following a foul on Flamingos keeper Faith Omilana.
In the 20th minute the Flamingos took the lead thanks to Ajakaye who registered her first goal of the tournament.
With two minutes left to play in the first half Flamingos were forced to a change due to injury to Comfort Folorunsho.
In the 48th minute Bello doubled the Flamingos’ lead after nodding in a corner.
The Flamingos continued to press for more goals and were rewarded on 63 minutes this time off the boot of substitute Etim.
Germany pulled a goal back through Jella Viet in the 73rd minute.
In the 88th minute Platiner got Germany’s second before Bender got the third on 90 minutes.
Meanwhile the final will take place later on Sunday between reigning U-17 women’s champions Spain and Columbia.
By James Agberebi
24 Comments
Congratulations girls.
You have what it takes to beat Colombia but at the same time well done.
Once again congratulations.
Been a while I heard of a comeback such as this at any level of our national teams. Germany were so sure of a comeback that they were always getting free kicks that resulted in all their goals.
Ideally, this squad should metamorphose into the next u20 (hopefully, world cup in two years time) but I know National team coaches and their “ideal” players.
This might be the last of many of these players unless they are exceptional and fortunate to be in pro-developmental clubs.
They should rather look for more additions,it all depends on form at the time,besides Nigeria has a great number of emerging talents,so what we need is look for a good and genuine coach to manage our under 20’s.
In my opinion Olowokere should be left to continue his fantastic job with our under 17’s.
Credit to the coach and his crew for doing a great job you won’t believe he’s a greenhorn at international management,hopefully a journey to a laudable career has just started for Olowokere.
Omilana is a better penalty stopper in my observation.
She almost stopped one kick diving to her left and got her fingers to the ball,unfortunately the power of the kick was too too much to be stooped.She went the right ways on another and made a bronze winning save for a her team,i think she should have left on to finish the colombian game,she has better reach,height and looks more intimidating between the sticks than Ojuwaku.
Congratulations girls and to the coaching crew. But how did you contrive to throw away a 3- goals lead at this level.
Luck was on your side today! When it got to penalty kicks I was so scared because the Germans, at any level, hardly lose through Spot kicks.
No, I disagree that she (Omilana is a better penalty kick stopper). She made 1 save and the other goalkeeper made 1 save each in 2 outings. We lost the semi-final because of the penalty takers and not the goalkeeper.
I told someone Omilana is better stopper but he was creating an argument as usual and choosing a keeper that can not dive to her right as penalty specialist. Penalty specialist indeed…. The tournament is going perfectly well upnext is the best two teams slugging it out in the final. May the best team win but I choose Colombia led by Linda Caicedo.
Do not forget that Jiwaku stopped 2 kicks, the coaches know the players better up close. The fault in the semi final was the penalty takers. Folarunsho should not have take a penalty again after she lost her in the quarter final. Her confidence was lacking. It was good she was not around to take one in this last game.
We really need to go and learn whatever it is Spain is doing right for their female football.
Just before 2010, they were almost nowhere to be found in female football and any level, U17, 20 or Senior and also at club level. They qualified for the U17 WC for the first time in 2010 and ended up with a bronze medal, have have finished with a medal each of the other 4 times they have gone on to qualify, culminating in back to back wins in 2018 and 2022.
Their U20s have qualified for the U20 WC only 4 times, with 3 of those 4 times being the last 3 editions, and that too has ended in back to back final appearances in 2018 and 2022.
Their senior women’s national team never qualified for the world cup up until year 2015, but they’ve already played in the R16 at the last edition, and its looking like they will go even further next year.
Barcelona Femeni too has risen from no where to become consistent UEFA Womens Champions league semifinalists since 2016 and back-to-back-to-back finalists 3 straight years from 2019-2021.
What are they doing right over there in the Iberian Peninsula that our NFF cannot go and copy or borrow a template, instead of just being contented with us being perennial attendees at global tournaments….?.
Such revolution within a decade doesnt happen by accident.
Those who have ears (and brains) let them hear.
I cannot agree less with your submission. Success comes with deliberate planning and implementation of the right policies and not resulting to just prayers during matches.
Man mi, mo gbadun e….you spot on…. I saw Gusau and Amaju Picknic at the background in the last game. I just hope Gusau’s time will not be an extension of Picnic time because that will be disastrous for the development of Naija football.
@ Dr Drey.The Spanish coach mentioned it today during his interview.He paid tribute to the inter state competition among all levels that is a conveyor belt for young female talents in Spain.
I believe the trick to success both in male and female football is early beginnings. If we start early from primary school and encourage girls to take up soccer the gap between us and yhe likes of US, canada, spain, germany, france, japan etc wont be too big. We do have some talent but they most likely started late and not organized football. Most nigerians who live outside the shores of 9ja can attest to the fact that as little as 5yrs old their kids are in academies 3-5 times a week where they are taught the game from a tender age. They understand team work and the rudiments of the game. Unfortunately for most african countries due to religion and other issues girls aren’t encourage to take up d game early so when they do take up the game the gap between them and dia counterparts from Europe and North America is very wide. Haven’t said dat, the fact that we keep progressing with our haphazard preparation and planning is a testament of the huge pool of talent we have in 9ja. I know some people will say we’ve won some tournaments with overage players but i would disagree, u never judge a player by looks alone. I remember wen we used to play in school it was ur height that determined if u were eligible or not. If we use dat criteria then many of the players from various european countries won’t be eligible. Not saying d europeans are age cheats but we should stop calling our players cheats too. There are 2 2 players from colombia dat are full internationals for dia senior national team (linda caicedo and dia rightback) u don’t hear us saving d colombians are age cheats. Kudos to our girls for overcoming all obstacles and bringing smiles to d faces of millions of nigerians. I throway salute to una, abeg una try wella.
Wow! Kudos to the coaches and the players. This is the first time our female U-17 team got to the podium. The nff should try and keep this team together including the technical bench for the next U-20 team. New players can be added to strengthen the team.
Exactly! I think the core of the team should be kept together and be allowed to transition to the U20 team. The coach should be allowed to progress with them as he understands their strengths and mentality. He should be sent on refresher courses to enhance his understanding of the game.
Not really sure about coaching…. I don’t see any good coaching in the way we played compared to other teams. The coaches need to sharpen their skills if they have to continue to be part of the team.
Kudos to the Nigerian young players. Age cheats has been completely abolished in these aged games over the years as a result of the effective “age scanning machines” that are made available by FIFA to ensuring that there is no excuse for a Nation when caught red handed. The consequence is extremely hash for the National Federations who cheats. Visit FIFA website to disabuse your mind in this regard.
I don’t think there is anyone still complaining about age cheats in this team. To me we played our best game of the Tournament in this 3rd place game against an excellent German side. We matched them toe to toe, grit to grit and I am very proud of the young girls. We can’t actually match the organizational level of the Europeans or Americans in football, There are many constraints impeding the growth of football in Africa and the MAJOR one is Economy. But in our own way, we should do our best with the situation we find ourselves, We are not faring badly in women’s football development, though it can still be better, We have been twice U-20 Women World Cup Silver medallist and now Bronze at the u-17, I think we just have to make a statement at the Senior Level starting from the next Women’s World Cup in Australia to complete the cycle.
With Waldrum, I think I will lower my expectations..
Well said, Dr. Drey. The Spanish are simply applying methods that have worked for them with their men. Barca for instance, have their La Masia academy, which has produced tons of players for not just the club, but also their national team. The bulk of the Barca team that dominated European club football in the previous decade, and the Spanish team that won the world cup in 2010, were La Masia alumni. Names like Xavi Hernandes, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Pepe Reina, Cesc Fabregas, Carlos Puyol are products of the academy. Current Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta was nurtured at La Masia. Also a certain Pep Guardiola learned his trade there. La Masia also nurtured foreign talents. Argentina have La Masia to thank for helping Messi to realize his potential.
The name La Masia means “FARM HOUSE” in English. That’s the Spanish mentality. Identify young talents, plant them so to speak, and nurture them to maturity.
Congratulations Flamingos.We are super happy you could clinch a well deserved bronze.You have played very well.Well done girls.
This Ajakaye ehn, the girl na BABY OSHOALA. It would not surprise me if she gets an offer from a good club in the near future.
I cannot agree less with your submission. Success comes with deliberate planning and implementation of the right policies and not resulting to just prayers during matches.
Ajakaye…it’s her name that’s pushing her to excellence…ajakaye..she fought gallantly and conquered…ajakariaye ..