Nigeria came from behind and beat Canada 3-1 to finish the group stage of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica with three wins from three.
Already-eliminated Canada led through Kaila Novak in the second minute following a goalkeeping blunder, before Onyenezide equalised from the spot in the 22nd minute after Mia Pante handled the ball in the box.
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Nigeria won another penalty seven minutes later and it came as Mercy Idoko was fouled by Simi Awujo inside the box, a decision given after the referee consulted the pitch side monitor.
Onyenezide converted again to make it 2-1 and substitute Chioma Olise then added a third goal late on to confirm a resounding victory in Alajuela.
The Falconets, who lost in the tournament’s final in 2010 and 2014 to Germany, will face the Netherlands in Sunday’s quarter-final after the latter beat Africa’s other representative, Ghana, 4-1 in San José.
Ghana had already suffered defeats to United States and holders Japan, which meant they could not qualify for the quarter-finals. The Black Princesses were once again punished for goalkeeping and defensive blunders in this year’s tournament.
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Goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan Findib failed to handle a cross, which allowed Liz Rijsbergen to put the Dutch ahead before the half-hour mark. Ziva Henry made it 2-0 six minutes after the restart, tapping in after more uncertainty from Konlan Findib.
Doris Boaduwaa grabbed Ghana’s first goal of the tournament with a lovely finish in the 53rd minute, but Rijsbergen blasted in her second in the 65th minute before Marit Auée sealed the 4-1 win for the Europeans.
Ghana have now failed to go past the group stage of the global tournament in six appearances.
