October 17, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Under-17 female football team, the Flamingos, dominated their opening match of the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals. The contest, on Wednesday, in Santiago de los Caballeros, saw Nigeria defeat New Zealand with a decisive 4-1 scoreline.
The match began with an explosive start as Shakirat Moshood found the back of the net merely 80 seconds into the game, setting the tone for Nigeria’s aggressive playstyle. The team’s offensive pressure continued throughout the first half, with Taiwo Adegoke and Faridat Abdulwahab both contributing goals, bringing the score to 3-0 by half-time.
Nigeria maintained their momentum in the second half, with team captain Taiwo Afolabi extending the lead to 4-0 early after the restart. New Zealand managed to score a consolation goal at the hour mark through Saxon, who capitalised on a well-executed corner kick routine. Despite this, Nigeria’s victory was never in doubt.
The Flamingos’ performance was characterised by relentless attacking play and solid teamwork. Notable mentions go to Harmony Chidi, who consistently threatened the New Zealand defence, and Peace Effiong, whose presence was felt across the pitch. Such was their dominance that Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Christiana Uzoma, remained largely untested throughout the match.
Looking ahead, Nigeria’s next challenge comes on Saturday against tournament debutants Ecuador. A win in this upcoming fixture would guarantee the Flamingos a spot in the knockout stages of the competition, further cementing their strong start to the tournament.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
