In 2010, Nigeria’s Falconets broke the quarterfinal jinx at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup with a stunning victory against USA in the quarterfinal. Few people gave the Edat Okon tutored side a chance because USA were favourites and had Sydney Leroux, the “golden girl.”
Against all odds, Helen Ukaonu’s thunderbolt, a goal of the tournament contender brought Nigeria back into the game and it went into penalties. Alaba Jonathan saved a penalty to send Nigeria to its first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup semifinals
In 2022, Nigeria’s Flamingoes faced a stern test in the quarterfinal. They had never been to the semifinals and needed to break that jinx against USA
Like in 2010, they scored from a setpiece, game went to extra time and goalkeeper, Jiwuaku saved the US captain’s penalty as Nigeria zoomed to their first ever semifinal at the U17 Women’s World Cup
History repeats itself in different ways