Nigeria’s Flamingos should fly above the Yanks of USA in the first quarterfinals of the world U17 women’s cup expected to be played on Saturday by 2030 hours at the at Santiago de los Cabelleros Stadium
The only time the two teams met though was on 21st October 2022 at the same quarterfinal in India which ended 1-1 where Edafe scored for Nigeria via penalty kick at the 26th minute and USA equalized in the 40th minute via Villarreal’s goal. Nigeria went into the semifinal winning 4-3 on penalty kicks.
Cover photo: Nigeria versus USA in 2022.
On current form after looking at group matches, Nigeria should conclude the match on Wednesday within regular time.
From the three matches played by each team, Nigeria had 107-42 shots at goal; 38-21 shots on target meaning that both the defence and the goalkeeper of USA should expect a team that has a command of “SHOOT AT SIGHT” from Coach Bankole Oloowokere. This is dangerous for the receiving team that may only get out of the siege with a well-planned counter attack.
Nigeria has an average of 68.3 -68% ball possession and also was able to string a whopping 1,333 – 385 passes in the three matches meaning that the Yankee babes may be frustrated and make foul attacks and forced errors like Own Goals which happened to the American defender, Jacelyn Travers against Spain.
USA already had 29-15 fouls in the three matches with 2-1 yellows meaning that the Americans are used to committing errors but have to be careful with a team like Nigeria not to commit the errors within the periphery of the penalty box.
An option to that is to play something we call SAVE CORNER in football which might give your opponent anadvantage to score but just boot the the ball into the stands for throw-ins also provided that Nigeria has not trained the likes of Tony Otah or Jay Jay Okocha who can make long throws into the goal mouth.
Nigeria recorded 40-16 corner kicks which the team may have special training on set pieces for along with penalty kicks. Shakirat will look to increase her goal haul even goal poacher Harmony Chidi and Peace Effiong who are face kwashiorkor of goals scoring a goal each.
USA has Goal machine in Barcenas who has 3 goals now as well as Kennedy Fuller who has 2 goals and three others who scored a goal each.
Nigeria played more games at their venue than USA so you may want to count on crowd support but the hosts were booted out by Nigeria and it is common thing in global football that once the hosts are out the stands are empty.
Also Read:Libya vs Nigeria: What Should CAF decide?*
Fire guts Lagos Govt staff quarters in Ogba – LASEMA
AFCON 2025: Super Eagles stranded at Libya airport after flight diversion
Nigeria came as leaders of Group A with 9 points scoring 9 goals and conceding only one goal in three matches while USA came as runners up with 6 points scoring 8 goals and conceding 3 goals meaning Nigeria has psychological advantage of superiority and knowing the Africans have a better Defence in goals conceded.
The winner of this tie will proceed to meet the winner of the North Korea versus Poland match on Wednesday 30th October at midnight Nigerian time in the semifinal.
The 3rd place match for the Bronze Medal is scheduled for Sunday at 1930 hours before the grand finale at 2300 hours of same Sunday.
#DominicanRepublic2024 #FIFA #CAF
#NigeriaFF #USAFA.
