- Nigeria goals: Queen Joseph (56), Awawu Bashiru (71 & 80)
- Brazil goal: Greise Kelly (89)
- Player of the Match: Awawu Bashiru (Nigeria)
- Japan beat DPR Korea 4-1 on penalties to reach final
A breathtaking second-half blitz propelled Nigeria into territory they have never touched before, their first-ever FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup final. Thanks to three ruthless second-half strikes after the interval, the Brazilian resistance was shattered as the Nigerian girls punched their way to a historic final ticket on the global stage
What began as a tense, tactical chess match erupted into a masterclass of pure African flair and unstoppable momentum as the stadium held its breath with the Flamingos shifting into an untamable gear.
Ultimately, it was an awesome display of grit and flair, that left a shell-shocked Seleção chasing shadows and completely stunned in a match that will echo through the history of the tournament.
In booking their ticket to a maiden U-17 showpiece, the Coach Akeem Busari’s girls dominated proceedings from start to finish. Stubbornly, the Brazilian goal seemed charmed in the first half, as Queen Joseph, Mary Dunstan and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi all coming close for the Flamingos but luck refused to smile on them all.
However, that relentless pace towards the Seleção net only ramped up after the break, and the Flamingos eventually broke through when Adegbuyi cut in from the right and scuffed a shot into the path of Joseph who side-footed home.
Awawu Bashiru then doubled the advantage when her cross flew over everyone, including Nathy in the Brazil goal, and nestled in the bottom corner. If that goal was somewhat fortuitous, there was nothing lucky about her second. A flowing Nigeria move reached the No11, who side-stepped one Brazil defender and poked the ball into the bottom corner.
The consolation came for the South Americans as Greise Kelly reduced the deficit with a late header, but it was too little, too late for last year’s fourth-placed side as the referee blew the final whistle signalling the end of proceedings on the night
Earlier in the day, Japan secured their long-awaited return to the final in the most dramatic of circumstances after scoring an injury-time equaliser against DPR Korea before edging the two-time defending champions in a penalty shootout.
