Get Guardian on GoogleNigeria’s hope of winning its first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title this year got close to fruition, yesterday, in Rabat, Morocco, where the Flamingos beat Brazil 3-1 in the second semifinal of the championship. The Flamingos will now meet Japan in the final following the Asians’ defeat of defending champions, North Korea, in the first semifinal.
Nigeria’s surge to the semifinals, with defending champions North Korea as one of its victims, gave the Flamingos’ fans hope that, perhaps, this is the year the country will win its first FIFA women’s title.
That dream was further oiled by the girls at the Mohammed V Stadium, where they ran rings around the Samba girls, scoring three second half goals to send their fans dancing.
After a goalless first half, Queen Joseph opened scores for the Flamingos in the 56th minute, while Awawu Bashiru made it 2-0 in the 71st minute.
Awawu doubled her tally nine minutes later to make it 3-0 before Greise Kelly reduced the tally for the Brazilians with a minute to the end of normal time, but it was a little too late for the Samba girls to experience a resurgence.
Nigeria will now meet Japan in Saturday’s final game.
Japan defeated North Korea 4-1 via penalties after normal time ended 1-1 in the first semifinal.
