Colin Udoh, ESPNO Special Reporter October 26, 2024, 2:46am
Close travel writer. In my previous life, I was an engineer. A black belt. I love soccer and am also interested in other sports.
Nigeria qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on the back of a record scoring performance in the Dominican Republic qualifying round, where they defeated all their opponents and scored 25 points.
They continued their ruthless war in the Caribbean. They achieved a record of 9 points, 9 goals scored, and only 1 goal conceded in their 3 group games, and decided to advance to the quarterfinals. This is the third time in six appearances that they have won all three group stage matches, following in 2010 and 2014.
This is everything coach Bankole Olowokere had hoped for ahead of the tournament, and the Flamingos will now face the USA.
Just as Nigeria has been unstoppable with a 100% performance in the group stage, the USA has been a bit unimpressive with just 8 goals. The United States conceded three goals to Nigeria’s one, but all of their opening games were against defending champion and tournament favorite Spain. Since then, they have defeated Colombia and South Korea, scoring seven goals in the process.
In Melanie Bárcenas, America has a proven goalscorer with experience at senior club level. Her three goals of the tournament compare favorably with Shakirat Moshood of the Flamingos, who leads the tournament with four goals.
Although the positions were reversed, both teams faced each other on the same stage in India two years ago. The United States then entered the match as group winners, with Nigeria the loser and widely expected to go home after 90 minutes. The Flamingos scored first and then hung on after allowing a tying goal, taking the game to penalties and winning.
Shakirat Moshood scored a tournament-leading four goals in the group stage of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic. Pedro Villela – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Olowokere hopes this result will motivate the United States this time.
“Then it’s going to be a battle of wits,” he told ESPN. “They’re going to come for revenge. I know they’re not the same guys, but I know they have that in the back of their minds. So we’re going to surprise the Americans on game day. We are working hard to make this possible.”
Part of the surprise may lie in Nigeria’s approach to the game.
Ahead of the tournament, Olowokere told ESPN that the team would be focused on offense.
“The best way to defend is to attack,” he said. “We should try to keep the opponent in our own half. Our philosophy is to try to score more goals than the opponent at any point, as much as we try to prevent them from scoring.”
However, the coach is looking forward to the finals, especially after the team had to work hard to beat the Dominican Republic in the final group game, as Moshood’s late goal was needed to break the stalemate. They seem to be taking a different approach.
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“It’s not like we struggled,” he said.
“At this level, if you’re not tactical, you shouldn’t be here. It was tactical. Not every tactical play works, so sometimes it doesn’t work. What really matters is how well you score goals. No matter what you decide, it’s about winning.’ Even if it’s just one goal, as long as it takes you to the next level, that’s what matters.
“We know (the U.S.) is well prepared, but we want to move on to the next stage, so I believe we are just as ready as they are. I have a plan for it and I’m not ready to just let it go.” That way. ”
Nigeria has reached the quarter-finals for the fifth time in this tournament, more than any other African team. Ghana is the only country to have reached this stage so far. They are aiming to advance to the semi-finals for the second time, one place ahead of Ghana. The United States is making it to the quarterfinals for the third time, following in 2008 and 2022, and has reached the semifinals once before (losing in the final in 2008).
Nigeria captain Taiwo Afolabi qualified for the 2022 quarter-finals.
“It was a very difficult game and no one expected us to win,” she told ESPN. “But the game ended in a draw and we won on penalties. They will have a good game plan for us because they won’t want to lose to us again, but we We’re going to be ready to beat them.
Harmony Chidi scored 13 goals in qualifying, but she has not yet shown such potentially dangerous form. The same goes for Peace Effiong, who was equally deadly in qualifying. Instead, Moshood stole the headlines with his accurate batting.
Olowokere said this even distribution of risk made the team very destructive.
“There’s no player that’s more important to us than any other player,” he told ESPN.
“We try to get everyone working together for the benefit of the team.
“We have some players who are creative and can score, and the combination within the team gives them the supply to score.
“That means that when[the opponent]focuses on one player, there’s another player who can do even more damage.”