Nigeria's U20 women's national team set an U20 Women's World Cup group stage perfect record for themselves after beating Canada 3-1 in Alajuela on Thursday morning.
With a quarterfinal ticket in the bag, the Falconets needed to beat the Canadians to secure three wins for the first time in the country's history at the group stage of the competition and they won to finish with nine points in Group C.
The reigning African U20 champions suffered a poor start to the contest when they conceded their first goal of the competition in an accidental manner, following goalkeeper Omini Oyono's poor management of a backpass from Jumoke Alani that gifted Kala Novak a fortuitous goal in less than two minutes .
Esther Onyenezide, whose vicious curling shot earned all three points against Korea Republic late on, to send the Falconets into the last eight on Monday morning, scored from the penalty spot in the 24 th minute to pull the Falconets level. Defender Mia Pante had handled the ball from a Blessing Okpe shot in the box.
The Falconets looked composed and surefooted in the middle with the return of Deborah Abiodun, who sat out the encounter with the Koreans, and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu also played an inspired game after starting for the first time in the tournament. Her firm header from a Blessing Okpe cross in the 15 th minute missed narrowly.
Onyenezide shot Nigeria ahead, also from the spot, in the 32 nd minute, after Simi Awujo's dangerous play against Mercy Idoko, as the latter went for a header from Rofiat Imuran's inswinger, was penalized. In the added time of first period, Idoko came close to scoring her first goal of the tournament, but her touch from another Imuran inswinger kissed the upright.
In the second half, the Falconets added pace and brilliant use of space to their game, and it was no surprise when Imuran, again with a visionary cross, set up substitute Chioma Olise for Nigeria's third goal.
Meanwhile, the Falconets' campaign in the memorable tournament continues with a quarter-final date with The Netherlands in Alajuela as from 1am on Monday (Nigeria time) at the same venue.
