Local News: Falconets make history, eliminate USA

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NFF News

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NFF at a glance
Founded	1945
FIFA Affiliation	Since 1960
President
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
General Secretary	Bolaji Ojo-Oba
National Jerseys	Green/white

FIFA World Cup appearances
3 (1994, 1998, 2002)

Continental titles
Winner
CAN (1980, 1994)
Runners-Up
CAN (1984, 1988, 1990, 2000)

Best Results
Winner
FIFA U-17 World Cup Final (1985, 1993, 2007), Olympic Football Tournament Final (1996)

Runners-Up
FIFA U-17 World Cup Final (1987, 2001, 2009), FIFA U-20 World Cup Final (1989, 2005), Olympic Football Tournament Final (2008)

Falconets Make History, Eliminate USA

Nigeria sacked Cup holders USA 4-2 after penalty shoot-out to ease into the semi finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany on Sunday.

Hitherto, no team had been able to stop the ‘mighty’ United States from reaching the semi finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since the competition started in 2002, but the determined Nigerian girls, fired up by words of motivation by NFF President Aminu Maigari, went all out to make history.

The Americans looked unstoppable in the early stages with deft moves that unsettled the Falconets, and deservedly took the lead after only nine minutes following poor Nigerian defending of a corner kick.

Desire Oparanozie and Ebere Orji failed to greatly trouble the American goalkeeper for the rest of the half. But at half time, a phone call by NFF President Maigari to the girls to settle down, play their game and stop over-respecting the Americans worked wonders, as Falconets came out charging.

Ebere Orji and Esther Sunday tested Bianca Henninger in goal for the defending champions but it was hard working left back Helen Ukaonu who got Nigeria level with a ferocious free –kick with only 11 minutes left. Orji rolled the ball to her, and she let fly a powerful rocket that sailed into the roof of the net for a memorable goal.

The game ended that way and not even 30 minutes of extra time could separate the two teams.

In Bangkok six years ago, the Falconets tied similarly with Germany at the same stage and lost on penalties, but they refused to give in this time, as goalkeeper Alaba Jonathan gave Nigeria goodluck from the start by stopping American skipper Christine Nairn’s penalty.

Ukaonu, Esther Sunday and Oparanozie then scored for Nigeria and when golden girl Sydney Leroux shot over, the Americans were booted out.

Sunday’s win meant so many things: a great weekend for Nigeria football following the Flying Eagles’ win over Guinea in their African Youth Championship qualifier in Abuja; the first time Nigeria (or any African team for that matter) would reach the semi finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup; the first time Nigeria would defeat USA in a FIFA Women’s World Cup match; the first time that any team would stop the USA from reaching the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup semi finals and; perhaps, Nigerians will now be gradually erasing from their minds memories of the Super Eagles’ poor outing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

It also sets up a crack semi final duel with tournament surprise packets Colombia, after the South Americans defeated Sweden 2-0 in their quarter final match on Saturday.

Once more, the Nigeria contingent will pack their bags to move from Augsburg to Bielefeld for the semi final coming up on Thursday evening.

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