Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, fell to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Germany in their second Group D match of the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday night in Bogota, Colombia. The loss at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo leaves the Falconets in a precarious position as they pursue a spot in the tournament’s knockout stages.
Germany, runners-up in a previous edition of the tournament, showed their pedigree early on, taking control of the match.
Nigeria struggled to match the intensity and speed of the German side throughout the encounter, especially in the first half.
Despite a valiant effort in the second half, the Falconets were unable to overcome the early deficit, leaving them with three points from two games.
The match began on a sour note for Nigeria, who found themselves trailing in the 17th minute.
A defensive mix-up allowed Germany to break through, and Sehitler Alara capitalized on the opportunity, slotting the ball past the Nigerian goalkeeper to give her team a 1-0 lead.
Nigeria struggled to find their rhythm in the opening half, with Germany’s superior ball movement and organization pinning the Falconets back in their own half.
Despite moments of individual brilliance, Nigeria’s inability to string together consistent attacks left them on the back foot for much of the first 45 minutes.
However, the Falconets came out in the second half with renewed energy.
Just five minutes after the restart, Nigeria found their equalizer through Chiamaka Okwuchukwu.
The forward latched onto a well-placed pass and coolly finished to bring the scoreline level at 1-1, providing hope for the Nigerian side.
But that hope was short-lived. Germany responded swiftly, regaining the lead in the 61st minute through Sofie Zdebel.
The midfielder found space inside the box and finished with precision, putting the Germans back in control of the match at 2-1.
The Falconets pushed for another equalizer and thought they had it at one point, but their celebrations were cut short when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) disallowed a goal for offside. The decision frustrated the Nigerian players and coaching staff, but they continued to fight for a way back into the game.
Despite their efforts, it was Germany who struck the decisive blow.
In the closing stages of the match, Sarah Ernst added a third goal for Germany, sealing the 3-1 victory and ensuring her side remained unbeaten in the tournament after two games.
With the win, Germany now sits atop Group D with six points from two matches, while Nigeria, who won their opening game against South Korea, remains in second place with three points.
The Falconets face a challenging path ahead as they seek to secure qualification for the Round of 16.
As the tournament progresses, Nigeria will need to regroup quickly and deliver a strong performance in their final group match to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
