Nigeria's Falconets Secure Round of 16 Spot with Impressive Win Over Venezuela

In a commanding performance on Matchday 3 of the 2024 FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup, Nigeria’s Falconets secured their place in the Round of 16 with a 4-0 victory over Venezuela. This win confirmed Nigeria’s advancement to the knockout stages, following two victories in their group stage matches.

The match, held on Saturday at the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in Cali saw Nigeria dominate from the start. Amina Bello opened the scoring in the 16th minute, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Chiamaka Okwuchukwu extended Nigeria’s lead with a goal in the 28th minute, showcasing the team’s attacking prowess. As the game approached halftime, Flourish Sebastine added a third goal in stoppage time of the first half, effectively putting the game out of Venezuela’s reach.

The second half saw Nigeria maintain their control, with Joy Igbokwe sealing the 4-0 win with a goal in the 90+3rd minute. This decisive victory ensured that Nigeria finished second in Group D with six points and a +3 goal difference, just behind Germany, who topped the group with six points and a +4 goal difference.

Nigeria’s progression to the Round of 16 is a testament to their strong performances throughout the group stage. Their impressive goal tally and solid defense will surely make them a team to watch in the knockout rounds.