England‘s U20 Women’s World Cup is over after a 3-0 defeat to Nigeria in the Round of 16.
The Nigerians took the lead in the eighth minute in Bielsko-Biała when Tosin Rafiu charged down the left and was given enough room to put in a low shot past goalkeeper Katie Cox.
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The young Lionesses had an excellent chance to level the score from the penalty spot though. Ipswich Town forward Princess Ademiluyi was fouled by Rebecca Adegbemile in a decision that required VAR’s intervention to convince the referee to point to the spot.
Aston Villa defender Rachel Maltby took the resulting penalty but saw her effort pushed onto the bar by Christiana Uzoma.
England will feel like they should have been level by half-time and they found themselves two goals behind early in the second period when a corner from the right fell to Janet Akekoromowei to lash her effort home.
England’s fate was sealed in the 73rd minute. Akekoromowei robbed the England defence inside their own half before finding Mary Mamudu to score.
So while Lydia Bedford‘s team return home Nigeria will face the winner of Poland v Colombia in the quarter-finals.
