Izuchukwu OkosiColombia will play Spain in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India on Sunday after beating Nigeria 6-5 on Penalty shoot-out in the first semifinals of the tournament on Wednesday.
The game had ended 1-1 in 90 minutes, forcing the contest to the luck of penalty kicks. However, Omamuzo Edafe and Comfort Folorunsho missed their kicks, which actually gifted the South Americans the ticket to the final.
Prime Business Africa here rates the performance of the players who will now face Germany for the second time in the tournament – in the third place final – also on Sunday.
GOALKEEPER
Faith Omilana
Goalkeeper Faith Omilana produced a more beautiful performance in Wednesday’s semifinal match than in her previous outing against the USA in the quarterfinals.
Omilana produced strings of good saves to deny the Colombians; but she was, once again, subbed off ahead of the penalties.
FLAMINGOS DEFENDERS
Omamuzo Edafe
The right back lost her spot kick in the shootout but was decent in the 90 minutes of regulation time.
There was a moment she had a miscued clearance inside the Nigerian penalty area but Colombia’s Yesica Muniz did not have a clean connection with the ball and it went wide. 6/10
Comfort Folorunsho
Centreback Comfort Folorunsho, once again, disappointed Nigerians by missing her spot kick for the second time in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Against the USA, the defender had blazed her effort wide and on Wednesday it was her miss in sudden death that dashed the hopes of Nigeria reaching the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time.
Her performance in the 90 minutes was however good, although she misjudged the flight of the ball in the first half when Colombia attacked but a teammate bailed her out.
Shakira Oyinlola
The other of the central defenders had a decent outing and impressively snuffed out a threat when it seemed that Colombia were going to go 1-0 up after teammate Folorunsho was cut out. She cored her penalty kick. 6/10.
Timuninu Adeshina
Left back Timuninu Adeshina held her own in the first half and played strictly in defence more often. She did not gallop forward a lot to provide attacking outlet like she did against the USA. She was substituted at half time for Opeyemi Ajakaye. 5.5/10.
MIDFIELDERS
Blessing Emmanuel
The stand-in captain was presented with a chance to put the Flamingos ahead in the sixth minute but her shot when teed up by Taiwo Afolabi went off target. She made some vital interceptions. 7/10.
Taiwo Afolabi
The attacking midfielder had a lively game; although had some misplaced passes too. She scored her spot kick in the shootouts. 7/10.
Miracle Usani
The versatile defender cum midfielder moved from the right side of midfield in the 4-4-2 formation to the left back role when Adeseas relaxed at the start of the second half.
Usani, who has two goals in the tournament, intercepted, cleared and blocked the ball when necessary. She also converted her spot kick. 7/10.
Bisola Mosaku
Mosaku had her moments in the game but a good chance to score in the 22nd minute was lost as she was easily dispossessed of the ball. 6/10.
ATTACKERS
Amina Bello
Not one of her best games in the match she didn’t start with her regular strike partner, Ajakaye.
Bello’s combination with Edidiong Etim did not produce same spark as it did with Ajakaye. She was replaced by Edet Offiong in the 90th minute. 6/10.
Edidiong Etim
Resourceful as ever, Etim would always trouble defenders with her effervescent style of play, but was unlucky to score in regulation time.
She however scored one of the spot kicks in the shootouts. 6.5/10.
THE SUBSTITUTES
Opeyemi Ajakaye
Ajakaye, who hasn’t scored from open play in the tournament but has been awarded Player of the Match twice, started from the substitute bench.
When she came on, there was a bit of urgency and she had one glorious chance saved. 6/10.
Edet Offiong
A late substitute in the match. This was purely for the shootout and she did not disappoint. Brought on too late to make any significant impact. She scored from the spot kick. 5/10.
Chikamso Jiwuaku
The penalty specialist came off the bench, as was the case against USA, and saved one of the spot kicks by Colombia; but the Flamingos’ two lost kicks by Edafe and Folorunsho rendered her heroism vain. 6/10
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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