The Flamingos, Nigeria’s under-17 women’s national team destroyed New Zealand 4-1 in their opening match of the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The group under the direction of head coach Bankole Olowookere defeated their New Zealand in style at the Cibao Stadium in the Dominican Republic.
The Flamingos, who took home a bronze medal from the previous competition in India, got off to a fast start.
Nigeria 4-1 New Zealand
Shakirat Moshood scored the first goal in just 80 seconds, rounding the defense of the Australian girls to record one of the fastest goals in the competition’s 16-year history.
Seven minutes later, the gifted Faridat Abdulwahab struck the crossbar from 23 yards out.
Then, in the thirteenth minute, defender Taiwo Adegoke scored a goal from well outside the box, but the goalkeeper misjudged it and palmed the ball over the line before frantically trying to push it out.
The third goal for Nigeria came from a corner kick as Captain Taiwo Afolabi stung the goalkeeper’s gloves from close range in the 28th minute before Abdulwahab comfortably floated the ball over the goalie from 16 yards.
The Flamingos kept attacking the opponent goal in the second half, and eight minutes into the second half, Afolabi’s looping header from Adegoke’s cross from the right beat the goalkeeper and into the net to make it 4-0.
Hannah Aimee Saxon gave the New Zealanders a response on the hour when she collected the ball from a corner kick and made a deft spin to strike past goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma.
Even though Nigeria’s leading scorer from the qualification series, Chidi, was again denied in the 75th minute, the Flamingos finished the game in style.
They will hope to advance to the tournament’s knockout round with three more points against Ecuador on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
