Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, concluded their World Cup journey with a 2-0 defeat to the United States in the quarterfinals held in the Dominican Republic on Saturday. Despite their spirited performance throughout the tournament, the Flamingos were ultimately outmaneuvered by the Americans, who scored twice to secure a spot in the semifinals.
The U.S. team took control with Kennedy Fuller opening the scoring just before halftime. The Americans strengthened their lead in the second half when Kimmie Ascanio found the back of the net, bringing the score to 2-0 and sealing their victory. This win served as a form of redemption for the U.S., who were narrowly defeated by the Flamingos in the 2022 quarterfinals, when Nigeria famously triumphed in a penalty shootout, eventually claiming third place in the tournament held in India.
Nigeria’s path to the quarterfinals in this year’s tournament showcased the team’s resilience and skill. The Flamingos topped their group stage with wins over New Zealand, Ecuador, and host nation Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, the U.S. team also demonstrated their determination, rebounding from a 3-1 group stage loss to reigning champions Spain by securing victories in their subsequent matches.
While Nigeria’s Flamingos won’t be advancing this year, their strong performances continue to build excitement and pride for the future of Nigerian women’s football.