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The United States of America ended Nigeria’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title hopes with a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final clash at the CFC Stadium, Santiago de los Caballeros, on Saturday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Goals from Katharine Fuller and Kimball Ascanio were enough to send the Flamingos packing, as the Americans avenged their 2022 quarter-final loss to Nigeria.
Fuller put the Americans ahead from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute before Ascanio doubled the lead in the 74th minute to seal victory for the three-time quarter-finalists.
The defeat ended Nigeria’s impressive run in the tournament, where they had won all their group matches against New Zealand, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic, scoring nine goals and conceding just one.
Coach Bankole Olowookere made two first-half substitutions, bringing on Blessing Ifitezue and Victory Ekezie for Peace Effiong and Risikat Azeez, respectively, but these changes failed to shift the game’s momentum.
The Americans continued their dominance in the second half, with coach Natalia Astrain making tactical substitutions that proved effective. Ascanio, who came on as a substitute, made an immediate impact by scoring the crucial second goal.
The result marked a bitter end to Nigeria’s campaign, as they entered the match with high hopes of replicating their 2022 triumph over the same opponents, where they won via penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time.
The Flamingos, who achieved their best-ever finish of third place in India in 2022, aimed to surpass that record but faced a determined American side eager to reach their first semi-final since 2008.
The defeat also halted Nigeria’s impressive streak in this year’s tournament, where they maintained a perfect record in the group stage for the third time in their history (2010, 2014, 2024).
The USA will now progress to the semi-finals, marking their first appearance in the last four since 2008, when they finished as runners-up in the tournament’s inaugural edition.
