Falconets: Nigeria Qualify For Quarter-Finals Of Women World Cup In France

Falconets: Nigeria Qualify For Quarter-Finals Of Women World Cup In France

The Nigeria Women’s U-20 team – the Falconets – have qualified for the quarter-final stage of the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup taking place in France, after playing a 1-1 draw with China.

A last-ditch effort from Rasheedat Ajibade saved Nigeria from exiting the tournament as the Falconets forced China to a 1-1 draw in Dinan-Lehon, with the Nigerian team claiming a spot in the quarter-finals from Group D at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018.

China scored four minutes before half-time, as the diminutive Linyan Zhang turned her Nigerian marker in the box and stroked the ball past a diving Chiamaka Nnadozie to give the Asians the lead at the break.

The Super Falconets pushed hard in search of an equaliser in the second half, but found the China backline and goalkeeper Huan Xu in resilient form until the end of the contest.

With seconds left to play, substitute Aishat Bello’s cross from the right saw captain Rashdeedat Ajibade challenge for the ball with China right-back Jiaxing Dou.

Bello’s cross struck the Chinese defender before nestling in the back of the net and sparking emotional celebrations from the West Africans at the full-time whistle.