Nigeria’s dream of clinching the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title came to a halt after a 2-0 defeat by the United States in their intense quarter-final matchup held at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros on Saturday.
The loss dashed the Flamingos’ title aspirations as the Americans exacted revenge for their quarterfinal defeat to Nigeria in 2022.
The United States took control with a penalty conversion by Katharine Fuller just two minutes before halftime, placing them firmly in the lead.
Kimball Ascanio extended the advantage in the 74th minute, sealing a well-deserved victory that sent the three-time quarterfinalists into the next stage.
Before this quarterfinal, Nigeria had shown exceptional form, sweeping their group-stage games with wins over New Zealand, Ecuador, and host nation Dominican Republic.
In these matches, the Flamingos scored an impressive nine goals and conceded only one, setting high expectations for a continued tournament run.
Despite making adjustments early in the game, Coach Bankole Olowookere’s substitutions—introducing Blessing Ifitezue and Victory Ekezie for Peace Effiong and Risikat Azeez, respectively—could not shift the game’s momentum back in Nigeria’s favor.
The United States maintained a stronghold on the match in the second half, with American coach Natalia Astrain’s strategic substitutions reinforcing their lineup.
Ascanio, brought on as a substitute, added an impactful second goal that ultimately cemented the Americans’ triumph.
This outcome brought an emotional end to Nigeria’s campaign, where they had hoped to replicate their 2022 success against the U.S.
That clash had seen the Flamingos emerge victorious in a tense penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
However, Saturday’s game underscored a reversal of fortune, marking a significant milestone for the Americans and a somber conclusion for Nigeria.
