Nigeria’s Flamingos produced one of the biggest results of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup so far, beating defending champions North Korea 3-1 in Rabat to book their place in the Round of 16, Footynaija.com reports.
Hakeem Busari’s side arrived at the Mohammed VI Football Academy knowing a win would take them through from Group B after the 2-1 opening loss to Poland and the 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico. North Korea had already scored 12 goals in the group and looked the team to beat. Nigeria still took the game to them from the first whistle.
Oluwakemi Adegbuyi opened the scoring in the 15th minute, finishing after Mary Dunstan’s involvement to give the Flamingos an early lead against a side that had torn through Puerto Rico and Poland. The goal settled Nigeria and forced the champions to chase the game.
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Oluebube Umejiaku made it 2-0 in the 38th minute. Tosin Rafiu supplied the assist and Umejiaku finished cleanly as the Flamingos took control before the break. North Korea, who had scored freely in their first two matches, looked short of answers for the first time in the tournament.
Kayinsola Yusuf stretched the lead further in the 56th minute with a well-struck free-kick that left the North Korean goalkeeper with no chance. At 3-0 the Flamingos looked comfortable, and an Adegbuyi effort late on was ruled out after a video review for a foul in the build-up.
North Korea finally found a reply in the 82nd minute when Yu Jong-Hyang, the tournament’s leading scorer coming into the match, converted from the penalty spot. The goal changed nothing about the result. Nigeria saw out the closing stages and finished the group stage with six points and a statement win over the holders.
The Flamingos will now wait for the Round of 16 draw. They finish second in Group B after the 3-1 margin, with North Korea still heading the section on goal difference from earlier results. Three teams ended on six points, and the mini-league among them decided the order. A four-goal win would have put Nigeria top. The three-goal win was still enough to send them through.
Adegbuyi has now scored in consecutive matches. Umejiaku and Yusuf added the goals that turned a tough group into a successful one. Busari’s side go into the knockout stage having beaten the defending champions on the biggest stage of the age group.
