Sabastine secures Nigeria win at U20 Women’s World Cup, Germany hits five against Venezuela

Nigeria secured all three points on their first game of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, beating Korea Republic 1-0.

Flourish Sabastine was the difference as her last-gasp winner earned Nigeria the win in their U-20 World Cup opener.

The Falconets had their deserved win as they dominated the game. Sixteen-year-old Lucky Nkpa flickered her brilliance in the first half, and the Africans dominated the second.

Korea Republic had their chances of taking the lead but could not convert those chances. The closest was when Kim Shinji rattled the crossbar just before the half-time whistle.

Cho Hyeyoung also proved an incessant torment to Nigeria. Cho fired wide after some brilliant trickery display. She also produced an inviting cross from the left but Park Soojeong could not make a connection with it.

Nigeria Lucky Nkpa charged through the midfield, playing a neat one-two with Rofiat Imuran, but shot off target.

In the second half, Imuran fired a free-kick narrowly wide, while Chiamaka Okwuchukwu danced her way past two opponents but was stopped by Woo Seobin.

Nigeria finally got the breakthrough late on when Sabastine’s attempted cross deceived Seobin and went in.

Nigeria made it four victories from four meetings with Korea Republic at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The Falconets won 2-0 in 2012, 2-1 in 2014 and 1-0 in 2022.

The Falconets have lost only two of their last 23 group games in the tournament.

The teams will return to action in Bogota on Wednesday, with Nigeria meeting Germany and Korea Republic facing Venezuela.

Germany on the other end made an emphatic start to their quest for a fourth FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup crown.

Loreen Bender and Sofie Zdebel dazzled as Germany thrashed Venezuela 5-2, to open the 2024 World Cup campaign.

The game got off early as Cora Zicai cut back from the byline fell to Marie Steiner, who thumped it home to give Germany the lead in the 15th minute.

Loreen Bender made it 2-0 in the 38th minute from the spot kick after skipping past Angulo, who brought her opponent down inside the box. Bender then sent Tibayre Rodriguez the wrong way from the spot to double the lead.

Venezuela reacted quickly as Floriangel Apostol’s free-kick came back off the post, hit goalkeeper Rebecca Adamczyk on the back and rolled over the line.

Steiner and Sofie Zdebel combined to enable Sophie Nachtigall to make it 3-1, before Bender got her second, headed home Tomke Schneider’s cross at the back post. Zicai got Germany’s fifth in the second half following a clever Nachtigall pass.

Venezuela got a late consolation after the ball fell kindly to her Apostol who slotted home to make it 5-2.

Germany will return to action against Nigeria on Wednesday, while Venezuela face Korea Republic.