Nigeria’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign appeared to be slipping away after a 2-0 defeat to Spain and a goalless draw with China. The Falconets had one point, no goals and one final group match in which anything short of victory could have sent them home.
They responded by scoring 13 goals in four days. A 10-1 victory over New Caledonia carried Nigeria into the knockout rounds before Thursday’s 3-0 win against England secured a ninth quarter-final appearance.
The New Caledonia result gave the Falconets confidence and qualification, but England provided a better measure of their recovery. Tosin Rafiu scored after seven minutes, forcing England to chase the match and giving Nigeria the early advantage they had failed to establish in their first two games.
Captain Christiana Uzoma protected that lead by saving Rachel Maltby’s penalty in the 34th minute. An equaliser before half-time could have shifted the pressure back onto a Nigerian team still recovering from its poor start to the tournament, but Uzoma’s intervention ensured the Falconets went into the break ahead.
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Nigeria began the second half with the same urgency. Janet Akekoromowei scored shortly after the restart before Mary Mamudu made it 3-0 in the 73rd minute, ending any realistic prospect of an England comeback.
Akekoromowei’s growing influence has been particularly important. She missed the opening defeat to Spain and joined the squad before the China match, but has since become a focal point in attack and was named player of the match against England.
The improvement has not come from one player alone. Rafiu has now scored twice at the tournament, Mamudu has added another threat in attack and Uzoma has provided leadership and security in goal. Nigeria have also kept three clean sheets in four matches.
There is a limit to what can be read into a 10-1 victory over New Caledonia, who were making their tournament debut. The England performance carried more weight because Nigeria had to be clinical against stronger opposition, defend their advantage and remain composed when the match became difficult.
The Falconets did all three. They did not dominate every period, but they handled the decisive moments better. Uzoma’s penalty save, the early goals in both halves and the team’s response whenever England threatened were signs of a side becoming more comfortable with the demands of the tournament.
Nigeria’s sudden improvement in front of goal remains the most obvious change. After failing to score against Spain and China, the Falconets have found the net 13 times in their last two matches. The attack is moving with greater purpose, chances are being converted and several players are now contributing.
Colombia will present a different challenge in Sunday’s quarter-final. The South Americans eliminated hosts Poland and are unlikely to offer Nigeria the space available against New Caledonia. The Falconets will need the concentration shown against England, particularly when defending transitions and protecting the areas around their penalty box.
Reaching this stage is familiar territory. Nigeria have now appeared in the quarter-finals nine times and finished as runners-up in 2010 and 2014. Another last-eight appearance should therefore be recognised without being treated as the limit of this team’s ambition.
The Falconets have already rescued their World Cup. Sunday will determine whether that recovery ends as a respectable quarter-final run or develops into a genuine challenge for Nigeria’s first title.
Nigeria face Colombia at 2:00 pm Nigerian time on Sunday at the Stadion Miejski ŁKS in Łódź.
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