Izuchukwu OkosiNigeria’s U-17 women’s national team the Flamingos on Sunday claimed the third place in the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India after a pulsating clash against Germany at the D. Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai reports Prime Business Africa.
The game had ended 3-3 in regulation time after the Nigerians led but let the Germans come back into the game by scoring thrice.
Opeyemi Ajakaye and Aderemi returns to the starting lineup while midfielder Chidera Okenwa is making her first appearance in the tournament.
Four minutes into the game, Amina Bello tried a long range effort but the ball was easily gathered by Germany’s goalkeeper Eve.
With seven minutes played, the Germans scored through Steiner but their effort was cancelled after VAR review following a foul of keeper Faith Omilana in the buildup to the goal.
Nigeria Ajakaye scored for the Flamingos on the run of play when she received a good pass from Okenwa and evaded the challenge of two markers to slot past the German keeper who aimed to push the ball away.
Moments after the goal, Bello was presented with a chance to double the lead but her shot came off the crossbar.
Blessing Sunday who like Okenwa is making her tournament debut came off the bench to replace Comfort Folorunsho who had to stretched off after colliding with goalkeeper Omilana as the latter jumped to push out a cross into the box by Alber.
Omilana scooped the ball away after Blessing Sunday almost conceded an own goal in added time.
The VAR had to review a potential penalty when Flamingos’ Shakirat Oyinlola was thought to have fouled Steiner.
The Nigerians could have doubled their lead before the break when Chidera Okenwa’s shot was easily gathered by Eve in goal for the Germans.
However the third goal came within few minutes of the second half when Amina Bello headed in from Miracle Usani’s corner kick.
The Nigerians created a few more chances but the next goal came from Germany through their captain Nella Veit whose flicked effort after missing a header beat Omilana in goal.
Lorean Bender made it 3-3 in added time with an acrobatic effort after a shot from her teammate came off the crossbar.
It finished that way and the game had to be decided on penalties with Blessing Sunday, Edidiong Etim and Opeyemi Ajakaye scoring albeit Timuninu Adeshina missed her kick.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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