Players of Nigeria pose prior to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022 group C match against Canada. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Nigeria has equaled the USA and becomes only the third team to make at least Eight Quarter-final appearances at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria sealed a last 16 spot and finished top of their group at the ongoing tournament in Costa Rica, with a perfect record.
The team has only failed to go beyond the group stage on two occasions in 2002 and 2016 – only Germany have less among teams that have made 10 World Cup appearances.
Similarly, only Germany has made more appearances (9) in the quarter-final than Nigeria.
But the Falconets are now tied with the USA who like the Germans have also failed to progress beyond the group stage at this tournament.
Nigeria’s next game at the Costa Rica 2022 comes up Sunday against the Netherlands, who are making a second consecutive QF appearance – in their second World Cup.
The Netherlands finished second in group D, bouncing back from an opening day defeat to Japan and claimed massive back to back wins against the USA (3-0) and Ghana (4-1).