By

Eniola Olatunji 

The Flamingoes of Nigeria were on Tuesday night in Morocco lashed 4-0 in the Round of 16 game against Italy.

 

As usual to their pattern the Nigerian girls had a better first half though Anna Copelli scored the curtain raiser in the 45th minute. Top scorer with 5 goals in the tournament Giulia Galli could not get a goal against Nigeria but her mates, Caterina Venturelli got the 2nd goal in the 58th minute; Giulia Robino scored the 3rd in the 63rd minute while an added minute goal of 90+2nd minute showed Nigeria’s lack of strength to prosecute a tournament of this nature.  

 

To qualify for the R16 games Nigeria lost 1-4 to Canada; lost 0-1 to France and defeated Samoa 4-0 at the group games. Italy beat Brazil 4-3; beat hosts Morocco 3-1 and crushed Costa Rica 3-0 also at the group games.

 

Nigeria had been to the tournament finals 7 times getting the Bronze with a 3-2 win over Germany on penalties after 3-3 at full time at India 2022. She lost in the semifinal to Colombia5-6 on penalties after a goalless full time. Nigeria got to the quarters three times at Azerbaijan 2012; Costa Rica 2014 and Dominican Republic 2024.

 

Italian girls are appearing at the U17 world cup finals for the 2nd time. In 2014 at Costa Rica, the team nicked the bronze via 2-0 penalty shootouts after a 4-4 full time against Venezuela. They had lost 0-2 to Spain in the semis but Sapain that year beat Nigeria 2-0 at the quarters.

 

Hosts Morocco’s performance was woeful as North Korea mercilessly hammered the North African contry 6-1. The only goal to Morrocco was scored by Maissane Ferkous in the 89th minute  after Imene Dayen had commited an own goal under severe pressure in  the 43rd minute.

 

Earlier in the afternoon the only Round of 16 match to have ended in penalty shootouts was recorded  in favor of Netherlands that ousted the Yankee babes 7-6 after 1-1 at full time.

 

Brazil dismissed China 3-0 to brave into the quarters.

 

The other R16 games will be played as follows tomorrow Wednesday. At 16:30 hours Mexico will play against Paraguay and at the same time Spain will line up against France.

 

Also tomorrow at 2000 hours Canada will tackle Zambia while at the same time, it will nuclear war between Japan and Colombia.

 

The quarter final pairings.

1. Brazil vs Can/Zam on Saturday

2. North korea  vs Jap/Col also on Saturday

3. Spa/Fra vs Netherlands on Sunday

4. Mex/Par vs Italy also on Sunday.

 

The 9th world U17 female football Tournament holding in Morocco is to end on 8th November 2025.