FOOTBALL: Flamengos secure semi-final berth with victory over USA

Emmanuel Alfred

Flamingos of Nigeria have booked a place in the semi-finals of this year’s U-17 women’s World Cup in India after beating USA on penalties in the quarter-finals.

The game which ended 1-1 after 90 minutes was decided by a penalty shootout with the girls triumphing 4-3 to qualify for a first-ever semi-final place.

Omamuzo Edafe gave the Flamingos the lead in the 27th minute from the penalty spot, following a foul on Amina Bello inside the box.
The Americans restored parity courtesy of Amalica Villarreal with five minutes left in the first half.
With both teams failing to find the winner in the second half, the game went into penalties with the Americans missing twice and the Flamingos missed one of theirs, and Edafe converted the winning spot kick to send Nigeria into the last four.

The Flamingos will now meet either Columbia or debutant Tanzania in the semi-final slated for Wednesday, 26 October.