…Hosts Morocco Mauled 6-1 by North Korea
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BY ENIOLA OLATUNJI
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The Flamingoes of Nigeria were on Tuesday night in Morocco lashed 4-0 in the Round of 16 game against Italy.
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As usual to their pattern the Nigerian girls had a better first half though Anna Copelli scored the curtain raiser in the 45th minute. Top scorer with 5 goals in the tournament Giulia Galli could not get a goal against Nigeria but her mates, Caterina Venturelli got the 2nd goal in the 58th minute; Giulia Robino scored the 3rd in the 63rd minute while an added minute goal of 90+2nd minute showed Nigeria’s lack of strength to prosecute a tournament of this nature.
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To qualify for the R16 games Nigeria lost 1-4 to Canada; lost 0-1 to France and defeated Samoa 4-0 at the group games. Italy beat Brazil 4-3; beat hosts Morocco 3-1 and crushed Costa Rica 3-0 also at the group games.
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Nigeria had been to the tournament finals 7 times getting the Bronze with a 3-2 win over Germany on penalties after 3-3 at full time at India 2022. She lost in the semifinal to Colombia5-6 on penalties after a goalless full time. Nigeria got to the quarters three times at Azerbaijan 2012; Costa Rica 2014 and Dominican Republic 2024.
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Italian girls are appearing at the U17 world cup finals for the 2nd time. In 2014 at Costa Rica, the team nicked the bronze via 2-0 penalty shootouts after a 4-4 full time against Venezuela. They had lost 0-2 to Spain in the semis but Sapain that year beat Nigeria 2-0 at the quarters.
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Hosts Morocco’s performance was woeful as North Korea mercilessly hammered the North African contry 6-1. The only goala to Morrocco was scored by Maissane Ferkous in the 89th minute after Imene Dayen had commited an own goal under severe pressure in the 43rd minute.
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Earlier in the afternoon the only Round of 16 match to have ended in penalty shootouts was recorded in favor of Netherlands that ousted the Yankee babes 7-6 after 1-1 at full time.
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Brazil dismissed China 3-0 to brave into the quarters.
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The other R16 games will be played as follows tomorrow Wednesday. At 16:30 hours Mexico will play against Paraguay and at the same time Spain will line up against France.
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Also tomorrow at 2000 hours Canada will tackle Zambia while at the same time, it will nuclear war between Japan and Colombia.
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The quarter final pairings.
1. Brazil vs Can/Zam on Saturday
2. North korea vs Jap/Col also on Saturday
3. Spa/Fra vs Netherlands on Sunday
4. Mex/Par vs Italy also on Sunday.
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The 9th world U17 female football Tournament holding in Morocco is to end on 8th November 2025.
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Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#FIFAU17WWC #Mar2025U17wwc #CAF
#NFF #CFA #FCF #ZFA #CIVFA #MFA.
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