Nigeria march into FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup quarter-finals
Published:
Nigeria continued their ferry-tale run in the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday, 23 October with a hard-fought 1-0 win over tournament hosts, Dominican Republic to march into the quarter-finals of the competition.
A late strike by Shakirat Moshood in the 89th minute was the sole decider on the day, as Nigeria continues to represent Africa well on the global stage.
From the kick-off, Nigeria took the initiative, dictating the pace of the game and quickly putting pressure on the Dominican defense. Their fluid and dynamic play was orchestrated by excellent coordination between the lines, with precise passes and well-thought-out movements.
The first half was marked by Nigerian domination, as they created numerous chances but failed to capitalize on them. The girls under Bankole Olowookere maintained their strategy, ensuring they left no space for the hosts while trying to intensify their attack.
In the second half, the Dominican Republic attempted to respond, taking advantage of the support from their fans. While their efforts were commendable, they failed to create any clear chances, as they were constantly thwarted by a strong Nigerian defence.
It was in the last minutes that Nigeria finally managed to turn the match in their favour. In the 89th minute, Shakirat Moshood fired a magnificent shot from outside the box, placing the ball under the crossbar to send the Nigerians through to the next round.
Up next for Nigeria will be the United States on Saturday in a 19h30 GMT kick off where a win will see them through to the last four of the competition.
