Ghana, Nigeria hoist Africa's flag at the Women's U17 World Cup

Published on: 26 March 2014
Ghana, Nigeria hoist Africa's flag at the Women's U17 World Cup
Ghana will face Italy at the last eight of the U17 women's World Cup

West Africa is again carrying the torch for Africa in football. This time it’s at the U17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

The two teams who have clawed their way to the quarterfinals are Ghana and Nigeria and both face stiff tests as they meet the best from Europe.

Ghana had been impressive until their last match. Before the Maidens fizzled to a desperate 10-man Canada, falling 2-1, they had pummeled everyone in their group including the much-fancied Germans.

They now face the Italians in Match 26 in San Jose on Thursday morning.

To beat the impressive Italians who in turn have lost only one game, the Ghanaians must find their speed again especially along the flanks.

The other part of the duo for Africa are the Nigerians, and unlike their cousins from Ghana, they have picked the right time to find their form.

Shrugging off "so-so" performances against both Colombia and China, the Nigerians were on fire against the solid, co-Group D favourites Mexico.

They are yet to be beaten, and after dismantling the team from North America 3-0 are set to face Spain in Match 28 ironically in the city with another West African connotation – called Liberia.

Nigeria are just as fast as Ghana but are also slick up the middle and in the air, where Kanu has been deadly with her headers and is living up to her famous namesake Nwankwo Kanu.

Both teams certainly have the potential to progress to an all-African semifinal on the 31 March.

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