Izuchukwu OkosiNigeria’s U-17 women’s national team the Flamingos on Wednesday lost 6-5 to Colombia on penalty shootout after 90 minutes that ended goalless in the first semifinals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India reports Prime Business Africa.
Flamingos coach Bankole Oloworooke elected to start Opeyemi Ajakaye from the bench in a 4-4-2 formation that had Edidiong Etim pairing Aminu Bello.
The Flamingos were the more purposeful in the early stages of the first half but Colombia gradually asserted themselves albeit losing several scoring chances.
In the 6th minute Blessing Emmanuel’s shot after Etim and Taiwo Afolabi combined to tee her up.
From the half hour mark however, Colombia showed their intent when Omamuzo Edafe miscued her clearance but Colombia’s Yesica Muniz saw her shot go wide from the rebound.
Colombia’s rightback Mary Espitaleta’s cracking freekick came off the underbar before goalkeeper Faith Omilana could gather the ball.
The Flamingos’ ponderous defending continued and Colombia even had a goal ruled out as Gabriela Rodriguez was flagged offside towards the end of the first half.
Coach Oloworooke brought on striker Opeyemi Ajakaye at halftime in place of Adeshina.
Munoz escaped the attention of Comfort Folorunsho in the 56th minute whose sloppy play saw the Colombian waltz her way into the penalty area but Shakira Oyinlola put the striker under pressure while Omilana did well enough to parry the ball for Colombia’s corner.
Afterwards Ajakaye’s rasping shot was saved by Luisa Agudelo in goal for Colombia to the reprieve of the South Americans.
In the 63rd minute, Omilana could only save a powerful shot at second attempt as she could not smother the ball the first time thereby preventing an onrushing Linda Caicedo.
The Flamingos were lucky not to concede in the 70th minute after Omilana denied Caicedo whose shot was parried to the path of Shakira Oyinlola. The defender’a cushioned control almost had the ball in the net but it bobbles away for a corner.
Omilana once again denied the Colombians with a good save six minutes to full time but had to be attended to by the medics.
Substituion for Nigeria as Omilana went off for Jiwaku while Edidiong Effiong came on in place of Amina Bello in the 90th minute.
The game was decided on penalties as Edet Offiong, Edidiong Etim, Mary Usani, Taiwo Afolabi scored vbut Omamuzo Edafe and Comfort Folorunsho lost their kicks.
The Flamingos will face Spain or Germany in the 3rd place final.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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