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Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team made history on Thursday when they
beat Colombia 1-0 to book a final date with hosts, Germany on Sunday.

The Falconets, playing in white, got off the starting blocks
early and were quickly on the score sheet.

A long punt from captain, Joy Jegede, took a wicked bounce and
hit the cross bar leaving Ebere Orji with an open goal and Nigeria had scored
the fastest goal in Germany timed at 1:29 seconds. Thereafter, the Colombians
tried to play their passing game but most times were hassled by the duo of
Cecilia Nku and Amarachi Okoronkwo supported by Rebecca Orji who played the
perfect foil for her two attacking midfielders.

The Colombians had a chance to get the equaliser in the 17th
minute off a corner kick as Natalia Gaitan’s shot cum cross is finally cleared
by Okoronkwo. The South Americans were then left with the only option of
shooting from far and Yorely Rincon almost surprised Alaba Jonathan in goal for
the Falconets. The referee was forced to make a decision in favour of Colombia
in the 30th minute when Desire Oparanozie seemed to have been tripped on the
way to goal.

In attack, the Nigerian’s side’s forays were breaking down at
the feet of Esther Sunday, who was trying to forage for goals single-handedly.
She was removed from the action by Coach Adat Egan in the 37th minute and
replaced by Charity Adule.

Colombia pile on the
pressure

The second half started in the same way as the first half ended.
The Colombians were straight into the attack and won a corner kick fifty
seconds into the second stanza. Nigeria’s first chance in the second half
almost materialises when Desire Oparanozie bulldozed her way down the right
flank to earn a corner kick. The ensuing corner kick almost resulted in the second
goal as it causes panic in the Colombian box.

An excellent two-woman move between Charity Adule and Ebere Orji
opened up the Colombian defence to give Adule a chance to shoot on goal but she
shot wide. Yorely Rincon continued her shooting practise but she marginally
missed the mark. By the 65th minute, the Falconets were starting to show signs
of tiredness; may be because of the extra time and penalties they went through
before dislodging the might of the USA in the quarter finals.

Coach Egan made a change by bringing on Soo Adekwagh to replace Amarachi
Okoronkwo, who had apparently run herself into the ground. Katerin Castro had
come in for the Colombians and was a handful for the centre back duo of Joy
Jegede and Osinachi Ohale, who did a wonderful job of shackling the strapping
Colombian attacker. Jonathan made a diving save to her right in the 72nd minute
to preserve the fragile lead of the Nigerians.

Play was then concentrated in the Nigerian half as the Colombians went all
out in search of the equaliser. They almost had it in the 79th minute when
Rincon’s 25metre shot crashed against the cross-bar, letting off the Falconets
for the umpteenth time. Nigeria should have killed off the game as a contest in
the 85th minute saw Orji volleying her shot over the bar after being set up by
her strike partner, Oparanozie.

The Falconets were at the receiving end for the remainder of the match but
held on to claim a famous victory and send the Nigerians at home and in the
stadium into scenes of delirium.

The Falconets have landed in the finals and will face the might of the
Germans on Sunday.