NFF blames referees, hard luck for Falconets exit from World Cup

NFF blames referees, hard luck for Falconets exit from World Cup

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has tied the exit of Nigeria’s female U-20 football team, the Falconets from the ongoing 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica on “litany of factors” including bad refereeing and poor finishing.

The Falconets who were optimistic of a semi-final ticket after securing an 100% record in the group stage games succumbed to a two first-half goals by the Dutch in the match played on Saturday.

Zera Hilswit had in 12th minute gave the Dutch the early lead before Ziva Henry doubled the scoreline in the 33rd minute.

While they pushed for consolation, falconets had a penalty turned down after the Center referee failed to be convinced with replay showing Netherlands defender’s handball inside the 18-yard box.

In a release after the match signed by its head of communication, Ademola Olajire, the federation noted that poor finishing, hard luck as well as unfavorable decisions by the Costa Rican official Marianela Araya had affected the chances of the Nigerian team.

“A litany of factors, including poor finishing, hard luck and dodgy officiating by Costa Rican official Marianela Araya saw the Nigeria U20 girls bow out of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup with a two-goal defeat by The Netherlands in their quarter-final match in Alajuela,” NFF said.

NFF argued that the had the Referee done better, the Nigerian team would have had the cause to get motivated in their quest for glory.

“Flourish Sabastine, who scored Nigeria’s three-point winner against France in the opening match of Group C, was cynically stopped in the Dutch’s box in the 7th minute, but just as she did all night, Araya looked away unimpressed,” the statement added.

The federation further noted that “In the second minute of added time, a Dutch defender handled the ball in the box as Nigeria poured forward. But after consulting the Video Assistant Referee, Araya overturned her own decision to award a penalty kick.”

The “defeat meant elimination for a team that had won all three group phase matches, scoring five goals and conceding only one.”

Before Falconets exit, Nigerians has had to deal with the defeats of both Anthony Joshua and Kamaru Usman in their respective bouts- making it all a ‘black weekend’.