Nigeria's Falconets secure 1-0 win over Korea Republic in U-20 Women's World Cup opener
Nigeria's U-20 women's team, the Falconets, started their FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup campaign with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Korea Republic at the Estadio El Techo in Bogotá, Colombia on Sunday night.
The match was decided by an 86th-minute goal from Flourish Sabastine in a closely fought Group D clash.
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Both teams showcased their talent and tenacity throughout the match. Korea Republic had an early opportunity when Park Soojeong missed a close-range chance. Nigeria’s response came from 16-year-old Lucky Nkpa, whose clever play with Rofiat Imuran nearly resulted in a goal that went just over the bar.
The first half was marked by dynamic play, with Korea Republic's Kim Shinji hitting the crossbar just before the break, a moment that stirred Nigeria’s defense.
In the second half, Nigeria stepped up their game, with Imuran’s free-kick narrowly missing the target and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu’s impressive run forcing a save from Korean goalkeeper Woo Seobin.
The Falconets' perseverance paid off when Sabastine's cross slipped past Seobin and into the net, sparking jubilation among Nigerian supporters.
This win continues Nigeria’s strong U-20 World Cup record, marking their fourth consecutive victory over Korea Republic in the tournament's history. It also maintains their excellent form in the group stages, having lost only two of their last 23 group matches.
Next, Nigeria will face a challenging match against Germany, while Korea Republic will look to rebound against Venezuela.
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In another U-20 Women’s World Cup match on Sunday, Morocco’s debut ended in disappointment as they fell 2-0 to Paraguay in Cali, Colombia.
The Atlas Lionesses showed early promise with Hajar Jbilou hitting the crossbar, but Paraguay’s Fatima Acosta proved decisive. Acosta capitalized on a goalkeeping error to score before halftime and then converted a penalty in the 57th minute.
Despite the defeat, Morocco demonstrated potential in a tough Group C that includes USA and Spain. They will need to quickly regroup as they face the USA next, while Paraguay will play against Spain.