By Patrick Obia
It was a teary and emotion-filled Wednesday afternoon at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India as the Flamingos of Nigeria lost 5:6 on penalty shootouts to the Las Cafeteras of the Columbian U-17 women’s team.
Both teams had played the first 45 minutes nil-nil in a game that was tactical-minded.
The Columbians in the second half, mounted pressure to find a breakthrough but the Flamingos who were more defensive kept them at bare, ending the 90 minutes at 0:0.
With the game settled for extra time and possible shootouts, substitutions were made to strengthen the already tiring squads.
The Flamingos were tipped to reach the final when Jiwaku saved Munoz spot kick at the beginning of the shootout but Edafe crashed her kick against the post to give the Columbians a lifeline.
The atmosphere already tense, and the Flamingos in dilemma about who to take the next spot kicks, Forlorunsho stepped forward and hit a shot that was saved by Columbian goalkeeper – Agudelo, sending the Las Cafetera to their first-ever final.
The Flamingos will slug the third-place play-off between Germany and Spain on Sunday 30, October 2022 by 1:pm.