Sundiata Post – Nigeria’s Falconets have crashed out of the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup after a 2-1 loss to Japan in the second round.
A late goal from Olushola Shobowale could not cancel out Miyu Matsunaga and Maya Hijikata’s earlier strikes as Falconets fell short at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota, Colombia, in the early hours of Friday.
Against the Japanese, Nigeria failed to replicate the dominating performance in a 4-0 win over Venezuela in their final group game.
Rofiat Imuran came close to giving Falconets the lead early in the game, but Akane Okuma, the Japanese goalkeeper, saved her effort.
Shortly after, Matsunaga put Japan ahead with a deft finish before Hijikata cushioned the lead a few minutes into the second half.
Falconets never looked like they could muster an appropriate response, but Shobowale managed to pull one back for Nigeria during stoppage time.
The late strike was too little and too late, as Japan hung on for a win, setting up that epic quarter-final clash with Spain.
