Flamingos out of World Cup after semifinal defeat to Colombia on penalties

Nigeria women’s U-17 football team, the Flamingos, have crashed out of the FIFA World Cup after losing to Colombia in the semifinal.

The game, played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa in India on Wednesday, saw both sides end goalless at full time before the South Americans won 6-5 in shootout.

Coach Bankole Olowookere’s girls got to the last four after beating the United States on penalties, a historical feat that broke a 14-year jinx.

The Nigerian teenagers had started the campaign with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Germany before bouncing back to hammer New Zealand 4-0 and Chile, 2-1 to reach the knockout stages.

Read Also: Flamingos knock USA out of World Cup to reach historic semifinal

It was Comfort Folorunsho who saw her attempt during the shootout, parried away by the opponent’s goalkeeper, handing them victory.

Colombia have now reached the final of the 2022 tournament, where they face either Germany or Spain, who are to play in the second semifinal match.

Flamingos will now meet the losers of the second semi final game in the third-place play-off billed for Sunday, 30 October.

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