The Falconets of Nigeria were knocked out of the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia after a 2-1 loss to Japan in the round of 16 in the early hours of Friday morning, Afrosport reports.
Christopher Danjuma’s ladies made it to this stage after finishing second in Group D behind Germany and ahead of South Korea and Venezuela.
They were however unable to match the Japanese in Bogota as Miyu Matsunaga and Maya Hijikata scored in either half to give the Asian powerhouse control of the game.
The Falconets were able to pull one back through Olushola Shobowale added time but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.
🏁 FULL TIME! in Bogota 📍
Japan 🇯🇵 2-1 Nigeria 🇳🇬
Despite a late goal, our sisters Falconets couldn’t overturn Japan’s lead, bringing an end to their tournament run.
WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/yGWIeI0tgo#SoarFalconets #U20WWC #JPNNGA pic.twitter.com/M7Y9FaUXxJ
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) September 13, 2024
It marks the very first time Nigeria failed to reach the quarter-finals at the U-20 Women’s World Cup, having previously failed to make it to the knockout phase just once.
