End of the Road for Flamingos as Italy Hand Nigeria Heavy Defeat

Nigeria’s hopes of another podium finish at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup came to a crashing halt on Wednesday as the Flamingos suffered a 4–0 defeat to a ruthless Italy in their Round of 16 clash.

The result ends the 2022 bronze medallists’ journey in Morocco, drawing the curtain on what had been a turbulent campaign marked by flashes of promise but undermined by inconsistency.

Nigeria’s Early Promise Falters

Determined to prove their mettle after a shaky group stage, the Flamingos started brightly and could have taken the lead in the 24th minute. Captain Shakirat Moshood unleashed a powerful drive from the left edge of the penalty area, only to see her effort acrobatically turned away by Italian goalkeeper Matilde Robbioni.

Moments before the interval, Italy struck the first blow. Anna Copelli wove her way through Nigeria’s defence before calmly slotting past Sylvia Echefu to give the Europeans a 1–0 lead at halftime.

VAR Drama and Italian Ruthlessness

Nigeria believed they had drawn level ten minutes into the second half when Nguemo Terlumun bundled home after a tenacious effort from Queen Joseph. However, the Video Support Review (VSR) disallowed the goal, ruling that Joseph had kicked the ball out of the goalkeeper’s hands.

The setback proved costly. Three minutes later, Caterina Venturelli doubled Italy’s lead with a spectacular long-range strike that sailed over Echefu and nestled in the top corner.

The floodgates opened soon after. Giulia Robino made it 3–0 five minutes later, and in the 89th minute, a final VSR review confirmed Rachelle Giudici’s late effort as legitimate, completing a dominant 4–0 victory for the Italians.

Flamingos Bow Out, Eyes on the Future

With the defeat, Nigeria’s campaign ends in disappointment, while Italy march into the quarterfinals boasting a perfect record of four wins from four matches.

For the Flamingos, attention must now turn to the qualifying series for the next edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup — now set to be held annually — as they look to rebuild and return stronger.