Nigeria Women’s U-17 team defeated Germany U-17 team 3-2 on penalties to claim a historic FIFA Women’s World Cup U-17 Bronze medal in India on Sunday.
The Flamingos who narrowly lost their semifinal game to Columbia on penalties bounced back with a win against a familiar opponent, Germany in the third-place match on Sunday.
It is a second time lucky for Nigeria against the European team as they avenged their 2-1 defeat to the Germans in the Group stages with the Bronze medal match success.
Ajakaye who was Nigeria’s top scorer during the qualifiers started the third-place match against Germany without a single goal after five games.
But she ended her goal drought by putting Nigeria up with her first strike of the campaign.
The pacy forward who has won two player of the match awards at the tournament scored Nigeria’s first against Germany.
Ajakaye made her usual run from the flank before firing past the German in the goal in the 20th minute.
Ajakaye first goal
Amina Bello increased Flamingos’ tally three minutes into the second half with a bullet header.
Flamingos second goal by Amina Bello
Substitute Etim Edidiong scored Nigeria’s third goal in the 63rd minute.
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/765428857
Flamingos third goal by Etim
Within 17 minutes of the end of the game, Germany pulled level to force penalty.
Germany first goal
Germany’s second goal
Germany’s third goal Bender’s overhead kick
During the shootout, Nigeria won 3-2, defender Tumininu Adeshina missed but it did not matter as Faith Omilana saved Pauliner Bartz’s penalty.
It is a first podium finish for Flamingos and Africa at the FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup.
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