NIGERIA’S female U-20 team, the Falconets, on Thursday, in Bielefeld, Germany, qualified for the final of the FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Colombia, after featuring

in all the previous editions of the competitions: Canada 2002, Thailand 2004, Russia 2006 and Chile 2008.

The glory-seeking Africans will now face the host, Germany, in the final billed for Sunday, also in Bielefeld.

Ebere Orji, the only Nigerian player nominated for the Golden Ball award among 10 players, scored the all-important goal barely two minutes into the game, when she connected a loose ball into the yawning net, after goalkeeper Paula Forero had failed to save a long range float by the captain , Joy Jegede.

The Falconets, coached by Adat Egan, showed tremendous improvement in terms of cohesion, coupled with a rock-like defence.

Desire Oparanozie lost a gilt-edged chance in the 30th minute, when she was dispossessed of the ball in the box by Natalia Gaitan after displacing the Colombian goalkeeper.

Charity Adule came on to replace Esther Sunday in the 37th minute.

The Falconets lost another scoring opportunity in the 53rd minute, as Ebere failed to connect Oparanozie’s cross, while Oparanozie too wasted a cross from substitute Adule.

Coach Egan later brought in Soo Adekwagh in the 66th minute to reinvigorate the team’s defence as the Colombians ceaselessly raided Nigeria’s goal area in search of equaliser.

Goalkeeper Alaba Jonathan was equally outstanding in goal, as she made a number of saves to aid Nigeria’s appearance in the final of the competition.

Ill luck denied Colombia a goal in the 78th minute as Yoreli Rincon’s long range drive was stopped by the woodwork with goalkeeper Jonathan already displaced.

Amid pressure to hold on to the lone goal, the Falconets failed to wrap up the game in the 85th minute as heroine of the match, Ebere Orji, jabbed the ball wide within the six-yard box off a cross from Oparanozie.

Meanwhile, Germany had, in the first semi-final decided in Bochum, whitewashed Korea Republic 5-1 in the match which Alexandria Popp increased her goal tally to nine in the competition, with a brace (50th and 67th minutes) towards winning the Golden Boot award.

Germany’s other scorers were Kim Kulig, who also scored two goals (26th and 53rd minutes) and Svenja Huth (13th minute), while the Koreans’ lone goal came in the 64th minute, through Ji So Yun, to remain in contention for the Golden Shoe award, with a goal tally of seven.