Ecuador Forward Reveals Why They Were Crushed 4-0 by Nigeria at U17 Women’s World Cup

Ecuador forward Domenica Arboleda has opened up about the reasons behind their crushing 4-0 loss to Nigeria’s Flamingos in their second group game at the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand. The defeat leaves Ecuador facing an uphill battle in the tournament as they look to regroup for their next match. Despite preparations, Arboleda admitted that Nigeria’s strength and speed were too much for them to handle on the day.

Speaking after the match, Arboleda acknowledged that the Ecuadorian team knew Nigeria would be a tough opponent. "We knew that Nigeria were going to be a tough opponent, they have very fast players," she explained. The Flamingos’ pace and physicality were key factors in their dominance, as Ecuador struggled to keep up with the intensity of the game.

Despite being prepared for the match, things didn’t go as planned for Ecuador. "We came in prepared but it didn't work," Arboleda stated. The forward highlighted how football can be unpredictable, with preparation not always translating into success on the pitch. Nigeria's well-coordinated play and relentless attacks overwhelmed Ecuador's defense, leading to the heavy defeat.

Arboleda remained optimistic, noting that the team must quickly shift their focus to their upcoming match against New Zealand. "But that's football, and now we have to focus on the game against New Zealand," she said, expressing determination to bounce back. Ecuador’s hopes of progressing in the tournament now rest on their ability to regroup and perform better in their next encounter.

With one game remaining in the group stage, Ecuador will need a strong performance against New Zealand to stay in contention. The team’s resilience will be tested as they aim to recover from this setback and finish their group stage campaign on a high note.