By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
As Nigerians are still savouring the victory of the Flamingos over the United States of America (USA) to set up a semi final clash against Colombia in the on-going FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India, details have emerged on how the Africans triumphed over the high-flying North Americans.
Prompt News Online exclusively gathered that the Flamingos coaching crew led by Olowookere Bankole had two different plans to outwit their American counterparts going into the quarter final match.
According to camp sources, Flamingos Head Coach (Bankole) and his assistants especially the goalkeeper trainer had agreed during the team’s tactical meeting that should the quarter final match against the USA drag into extra time and subsequently to penalty shoot-out, a tactical changes will be made to confuse their opponents.
It was learned that the Flamingos goalkeeper trainer insisted that the second choice goalkeeper, Linda Jiwuaku who had not tested action in Nigeria’s previous matches in India should be thrown into the game.
Jiwuaku, according to the trainer does better in penalty shoot-out than the first choice goalkeeper Faith Omilana who conceded a goal during the game via a penalty awarded be Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the open play.
Interestingly, the Nigerian bench fell back to Plan B at the end of 90 minutes by introducing Jiwuaku to replace Omilana in goal as the encounter went into penalty shoot-out as scoreline had stood 1-1 at full time.
Expectedly, Jiwuaku did not betray the trust of the trainer as she stepped forward to stop two kicks, although one was blazed over the bar by the Americans. All but Edith Folorunsho missed from the spot as the Nigerian girls triumphed over the USA to still keep Nigeria in the race for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup top prize.
Nigeria will tomorrow Goa meet Colombia in the first semi final showdown while Germany and Spain will clash in the second semi-final tie later in the day.
Both matches will take place at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Margao Goa.
