After New Zealand blowout, Flamingos ready for tougher Ecuador challenge
18 October 2024 |
4:02 am
Nigeria’s U-17 girls’ national football team, the Flamingos, who defeated New Zealand 4-1 in their opening game of the Dominican Republic 2024 U-17 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday night, say they are ready for a tougher challenge from Ecuador when they meet in their second game of the competition tomorrow.
Nigeria’s U-17 girls’ national football team, the Flamingos, who defeated New Zealand 4-1 in their opening game of the Dominican Republic 2024 U-17 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday night, say they are ready for a tougher challenge from Ecuador when they meet in their second game of the competition tomorrow.
Nigeria will take on the South Americans, who defeated the hosts Dominican Republic 2-0 in their opening game, tomorrow at the CFC Stadium, Santiago De Los Caballeros.
The Flamingos got off to a bright start in the competition with Shakirat Moshood scoring one of the competition’s fastest goals since it was launched 16 years ago, when she rounded New Zealand’s defence to score the first goal after only 80 seconds at the CFC Stadium.
Nigeria went two goals up when defender Taiwo Adegoke’s shot from well outside the box was misjudged by the goalkeeper who palmed the ball over the line before scrambling in vain to push it out. A check with the Video Assistant Referee confirmed that the ball had, indeed, crossed the line.
Firing from all cylinders, Nigeria again rattled the opposing goalkeeper in the 17th minute, with a sharp shot from Moshood that was punched over the bar. Four minutes later, Peace Effiong, all over the pitch, heaved the ball too high from six yards. In the 26th minute, Harmony Chidi rounded the goalkeeper who made a great block on the second attempt.
Captain Taiwo Afolabi stung the goalkeeper’s palms from close range in the 28th minute, and from the resultant corner kick, Abdulwahab easily lifted the ball over the goalie from 16 yards for Nigeria’s third goal.
In the second half, the Flamingos continued their raid on the opposition goal, and eight minutes into the restart, it was 4-0 after Afolabi’s looping header from Adegoke’s cross from the right sailed over the goalkeeper into the net.
On the hour, Saxon scored a goal right from the training ground, collecting the ball from a corner kick and doing a smart turn to shoot past goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, thus pulling one back for the New Zealanders.
Looking forward to a tougher game against Ecuador, which, if they will, will take them to the second round of the competition, Flamingos coach, Bankole Olowookere, said that his girls are ready to go one better than the third position Nigeria finished at the last edition of the competition.
He said that winning the first game has given his team the filip to take on every opposition without fear, adding that they respect all the teams in the competition.
“It’s a good first game for us. We are taking them as they come, so a good game for us, scoring four goals and only conceding one, so not bad for our first game.”
The game against Ecuador will hold by 9.00 p.m. Dominican Republic time tomorrow, which is 2.00 a.m.Sunday in Nigeria.
Related
Sport
9 hours ago
The Dr. Krystal Chanchangi Foundation, a non-governmental organisation committed to community development, recently organized a sporting competition aimed at nurturing the potential of young people in basketball and related activities. The event, held in collaboration with the Office of the SSA Youth & Diaspora Police Community Relations Committee, took place at the MO Arena, Wuse,…
11 hours ago
Plans by the National Sports Commission (NSC) to introduce a corporate governance structure and appoint Chief Operating Officers (COOs) for its various departments as part of a restructuring programme has reportedly unnerved the secretaries, who, hitherto, operated as the COOs of the sporting federations.
12 hours ago
The second Deaf Table Tennis Championship will serve off tomorrow at the knock up hall of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
12 hours ago
The president of British Fencing (BF), Patricia Aiyenuro, has confirmed that she would be one of the distinguished officials at the 2024 Men’s Junior Epee Fencing World Cup, scheduled for December 14 and 15 at Charterhouse Lagos.
1 day ago
Manchester City were plunged further into crisis on Wednesday after falling to a 2-0 defeat at Juventus which threatens their chances of reaching the last 16. Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie were enough for Juve to inflict a seventh defeat in 10 matches on Pep Guardiola's struggling City. English champions City languish…
1 day ago
The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) on Wednesday confirmed Morocco, Spain and Portugal as the joint hosts of the 2030 World Cup. According to FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, their joint bid was uncontested and ratified at an online FIFA Congress, with the English and Welsh Football Associations supporting it. The 2030 World Cup will…
1 day ago
Saudi Arabia was confirmed as host of the 2034 World Cup by FIFA on Wednesday, underlining the Gulf kingdom's growing influence in world sport despite criticism of the country's human rights record. READ ALSO:FIFA to confirm 2030 World Cup hosts today At the same time, a virtual Congress of world football's governing body confirmed that…
1 day ago
FIFA is set to confirm on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup while a joint bid by Morocco, Spain and Portugal which also features matches in South America will be awarded the 2030 tournament. The awarding of hosting rights for both tournaments will go to a vote during a FIFA Congress…
1 day ago
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said it would be "not normal" to ask his players who will travel to Kazakhstan to face Astana on Thursday to also take on Brentford this weekend.
1 day ago
FIFA will confirm the hosts of the 2030 and 2034 World Cups today, with a joint bid led by Morocco, Spain and Portugal set to be awarded the former, and the latter being handed to Saudi Arabia, reports AFP.
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.