Nigeria’ s Super Falcons will face Germany in the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
The African will face the former champions in Grenoble on Saturday.
It is the first time in 20 years that the African champions will play in the knockout stages of the competition after they reached the quarter-final at the 1999 edition hosted by the United States of America.
With Brazil, China and Cameroon already qualified as the three best third-placed teams, the West Africans were hoping Chile failed to beat Thailand by a three-goal advantage in Rennes, which came through on Thursday.
Despite Chile’s 2-0 win over Thailand in final Group E game in Montpellier, Thomas Dennerby’s side claimed the last spot among the four best third-placed teams, on superior goals.
The African champions had lost 3-0 to Norway in Reims, but defeated South Korea 2-0 in Grenoble, before bowing to Les Bleues in their final Group A match in Rennes.
With Cameroon already advancing, it means that Nigeria will be the second African side in the competition after the elimination of South Africa from the group stages.
It is also the first time since the inception of the showpiece in 1991 that two African sides reach the knockout stages.
