SPORT NEWS: Nigeria lost 3-0 to Spain in quarter final game of the Fifa U17 Women's World Cup

Bala Nikyu's girls failed in their
bid to grab a semi final place at
the ongoing Fifa U17 Women's
World Cup after losing to Jorge
Vilda's side
Nigeria lost 3-0 to Spain in the
quarter final game of the Fifa
U17 Women's World Cup played
at the Estadio Edgardo
Baltodano, Liberia on Friday
morning.

A brace from Patri Guijarro plus
one from Nahikari Garcia were all
the Europeans needed to book a
place in the semi final of the
competition at the expense of
Bala Nikyu's side as the Nigerians
once agains failed to make it past
the quarters.

Nikyu's team were second best
for most of the game and lacked
the bite to open up the Spanish
defence while the Europeans
easily found space in the
Nigerian area.
Jorge Vilda's girls took the lead in
the 14th minute from the penalty
spot after Andrea Falcon was
brought down by Ugochi
Emenayo inside the area of the
Flamingoes.

Guijarro made no mistake in
slotting home the resulting kick
despite goalkeeper
Onyinyechukwu Okeke guessing
the right direction.
The Flamingoes could have
equalised but Uchenna Kanu's
cross from the left side of the
Spanish backline was made a
mess of by captain Chinwe
Ihezuo who failed to convert
from close range despite
needing just a simple tap to get
her side back into contention.

Garcia and Laura Dominguez
were prevented from putting the
Europeans ahead in the closing
stages of the first half by
goalkeeper Okeke who was by
far the busier of the two shot-
stoppers.
Spain continued their dominance
on restart of the second half and
got their reward when Garcia
doubled her side's lead.

Dominguez set her up with a
sublime pass before holding off a
Nigeria defender and beating the
advancing goalkeeper.
Guijarro completed her brace in
the 71st minute by forcing the
ball past Okeke who spilt her
save following a ferocious strike
from Sandra Herndandez.
The result ended a seven-match
unbeaten run for Nigeria at the
tournament dating back to 2012,
and fell one match short of the
record sequence established by
Japan between 2010 and 2012.

Spain will play Italy, who
eliminated Ghana, in the semi
final on Monday while Venezuela
and Japan will contest the other
game.
Reference: by Shina Oludare/ goal.com