German Machines U17 girls got the shocker of their lives in far-away India on Sunday afternoon NIGERIA time when Nigeria glowed brighter in the 3rd place match destroying the amazing Machines 3-2 after a regular time of 3-3 at 90 minutes.
Nigeria made history as the first African country to win the world U17 female Bronze.
Opeyemi Ajakaiye stunned the Germans with the opener in the 20th minute as it was 1-0 at halftime.
On resumption, Nigeria dazed the Germans with the second goal through Amina Bello in the 48th minute before Edidiong Etim got the 3rd goal (not Bello as reported in my live scores).
However, Nigeria snoozed off refusing to reboot as Germany scored three goals within 17 minutes to raise a surprise equalization.
Jella Veit put in Germany’s first goal in the 73rd minute; Paulina Bertz scored second 84th minute and German pocket bomb, Loren Bender came up with the equalizer that almost razed the stadium.
Then the match went into sudden death for which this reporter can bet made Nigeria, a much prayerful nation of over 150 million Christians and Muslims from Aso Villa and beyond commence serious prayers.
Ref. Anahi Fernandez of Uruguay was painstaking with the penalty shootouts where Blessing Sunday; Edidiong Etim and Opeyemi Ajakaiye scored for Nigeria.
Jella Veit and Mathilde Janzen scored for Germany.
The NIGERIA girls then taught the world to Buga, a musical slang from Kiss Daniel which has held the world captive and will be done at the Qatar senior men’s world cup final meaning ‘be proud of your achievements and celebrate it.
These Germans failed to make an encore of their 2008 Bronze feat as they fell (won lule, a Nigerian political slang) to the Nigerians.
Germany thereby got a record of two 4th placings in 2012 and 2022. They fell at the quarters thrice in 2010; 2016 and 2018.
Germany had beaten the same Nigerians in the Group B opening match 2-1 and this victory for Nigeria is sweeter than honey, a superb revenge.
Nigeria made history as the first African country to win the world U17 female Bronze medal even when the country had four times slumped at the quarter-final stages in all appearances.
Ref. Katia Garcia of Mexico is waiting on the wings to handle the grand final between Defending champions, Spain, and underdog challengers, Coffee Growers of Columbia coming up at 1530 hours Nigerian time.
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