Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, launched their FIFA World Cup campaign with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Korea Republic at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota, Colombia.
Flourish Sabastine’s decisive late goal was the highlight, securing the win and boosting the Falconets’ chances of advancing to the Round of 16. The match was a replay of their encounter from the last World Cup in Costa Rica, where Nigeria also triumphed.
The Falconets showed resilience after a slow start, creating several scoring opportunities, especially in the second half. Mary Lucky Mkpa was particularly notable, though the Korean defense successfully countered her efforts.
On the defensive end, Shukurat Oladipo played a key role by preventing Korea from taking an early lead. Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Shukurat Bakare, faced a tense moment in the 28th minute but managed to avoid any damage from the Korean attack. Just before halftime, Myeyung’s free-kick hit the crossbar, a narrow escape for Nigeria.
Overall, the Falconets demonstrated both defensive solidity and attacking prowess, setting a strong tone for their World Cup journey.