Nigeria’s U20 girls have been eliminated from the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica after a 2-0 defeat in the hands of Netherlands in the quarterfinal.
Having qualified with some great performances at the group stage and the maximum nine points in the three group matches, the Falconets failed to proceed to the semifinal with a shock defeat to Netherlands.
Netherlands raced to an early lead in the twelveth minute when Zera Hilswit fired an effort past goalkeeper, Monie Oyono. The Falconets pushed for an equalizer after conceding the opener and had much of their efforts saved by the Dutch goalkeeper.
However, Nigeria’s biggest opportunity to get a goal from the match came in the twenty-ninth minute when Deborah Abiodun’s long range shot hit the woodwork and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu’s effort to head home the resulting rebound was stopped again by Lisan Alkemade.
Holland’s second goal came around in the thirty-third minute off Ziva Henry.
The Falconets created chances but would rue their inability to be lethal enough to finish their chances against the Dutch.