Nigeria qualified for the Round of 16 at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup as one of the best third-placed teams from the group stage following a favorable result from the final round of group games on Thursday.
Nigeria had already finished third in Group A behind hosts France and Norway having won one game and lost two others.
The result that sent the Super Falcons through was Chile’s 2-0 victory against Thailand in Group F at the Roazhon Park in Rennes.
The Chileans needed to defeat their opponents by a three-goal margin to eliminate Nigeria. They appeared well on their way to achieving that as they led 2-0 and were awarded a penalty with five minutes of the game left.
However, Francisca Lara missed the resulting spot-kick after hitting the crossbar and Thailand hung on for the remainder of the game.
https://twitter.com/FIFAWWC_NGA/status/1141814135887413249
Nigeria’s qualification means that two African teams have advanced from the group stages of the Women’s World Cup for the first time following Cameroon’s success on Thursday.
Cameroon beat New Zealand 2-1 in Group E with Ajara Nchout’s winner coming in the dying moments of the game.
Nigeria will play against two-time champions Germany in Grenoble on Saturday. Cameroon, meanwhile, faces England in Valenciennes on Sunday.
