Nigeria’s journey in the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup ended with a tough 2-0 loss to the United States on Saturday night. Despite the Flamingos’ best efforts, the Americans held control for much of the game, opening the scoring in the 43rd minute when Kennedy Fuller converted a penalty. Later, Kimmi Ascanio slipped a second goal past Nigerian goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma in the 74th minute, sealing the win.

Here are five key takeaways from Nigeria’s defeat:

1. Struggles with Long Balls:
Nigeria found it hard to break through the U.S. defence, forcing the team into a pattern of long balls and distant shots. The Flamingos couldn’t establish a rhythm in their passing game, and their first shot on target only came in the second half after 13 attempts, none of which challenged the U.S. goalkeeper Valdes.


2. A Tough Outing for Harmony Chidi:
Nigerian forward Harmony Chidi had a challenging night, unable to penetrate the U.S. backline or make decisive moves that could create scoring chances. Her attempts on goal were mostly long shots, which the American goalkeeper managed with ease.


3. Over-Reliance on Individual Efforts:
Lacking cohesion, Nigeria leaned too heavily on individual performances, with players often opting for solo dribbles rather than building plays as a team. The U.S. defence capitalized on this, leaving Nigeria unable to find an opening through structured team play.


4. Barcenas Shines, Long Contained:
For the U.S., Melanie Barcenas was instrumental in midfield, demonstrating intelligence and creativity that kept the Flamingos’ defence on their toes. Meanwhile, Nigerian defenders did well to neutralize Mary Long, restricting her impact in the final third.


5. Evan O’Steen Stands Tall:
U.S. goalkeeper Evan O’Steen confidently handled the few threats Nigeria posed, especially long-range attempts. O’Steen’s performance was calm and assured, showcasing her ability to rise to the occasion whenever Nigeria threatened.



While Nigeria’s tournament journey ends here, the match against the U.S. provides valuable lessons for the young team and serves as motivation for future competitions.