Written off after losing their opening group games, the national U-17 women’s team, Flamingos, rose up in their last game with a resounding victory over Samoa to show that they are still the force many have come to know in women’s football.
 
That 4-0 defeat of Samoa to some extent assuaged their fans’ feelings after the unexpected 1-4 loss to Canada and 0-1 defeat by France. It also showed the improvement in Coach Olowokere’s team after the pitty-patter displays in the first two games.
 
That level of improvement will face a big test against Italy, which is one of the emerging forces in women’s youth football.  The game will be held on Pitch 2 of the Football Academy Mohamed VI, Rabat, with the winner earning a quarterfinals ticket.
 
This is both countries’ first meeting at this stage of the competition, but Italy, which won Group A with maximum points after three straight wins, viz a thrilling 4-3 victory over Brazil, a 3-1 victory over host Morocco, and another commanding 3-0 victory over Costa Rica, poses a potentially fatal threat this evening in Rabat.
 
Nigeria qualified as one of the best third-place teams, but they enter this stage of the competition with newfound confidence and vigour. But the Italians, who are yet to lose a game, spearheaded by Giulia Galli, who leads the tournament in goals with five, will be full of confidence as they try to extend their winning streak.
 

The encounter, starting at 8.00 p.m., promises to be full of fireworks as both teams contest for a spot in the World Cup’s round of eight.