By Musa Kutama
Nigeria’s Flamingoes, the 2022 bronze medalists have on Tuesday, been sacked out of the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco by Italy with a 4-0 win, thereby taking their tournament tally to four wins in as many matches.
The Flamingoes entered the game with full determination proving to the world that their passage into the Round of 16 was no fluke, and could have been in front after 24 minutes, but captain Shakirat Moshood saw her fierce shot from the left side of the penalty box pushed round the post by goalkeeper Matilde Robbioni.
Anna Copelli, just before the close of the first half, put Italy in the lead when she danced round the Nigerian flamingoes and then picked her spot to slot past goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu.
Nigeria would have drawn level, 10 minutes into the second half when Nguemo Terlumun poked into the net after a battling effort by Queen Joseph, but the Video Support Review ruled that Joseph kicked the ball from Robbioni’s hands.
The Italians increased the tally three minutes later, through an audacious long-range strike by Caterina Venturelli that flew over Echefu and into Nigeria’s net.
The score was 3-0 five minutes later. However, Giulia Robino, in the 89th minute got the Video Support Review rule that Rachelle Giudici was not in an off-side position and had scored a legitimate fourth goal for the Italians.
The defeat ended Nigeria’s interest in the ongoing championship, but the Flamingos must immediately commence preparations for the qualifying series for next year’s edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, which is now an annual event.
