Flamingos’ Opeyemi Ajakaye finished the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a flourish after she was adjudged as the Most Valuable Player of the game between Nigeria and Germany in the third place game of the competition held in India.
Ajakaye was the Flamingos highest scorer during the qualifiers with six goals but she waited until the third place game before registering her first goal at the World Cup in the penalty shootout win over Germany.
The FC Robo Queens striker adapted her game in India and played another important role to ensure the 2022 Flamingos set their record as the first cadet side to get a medal for Nigeria’s Under 17 Women’s team through her key goal assists and spot on decision making while with the ball.
She was voted the best player on the pitch for the third time in this competition. She received the same accolade in the Flamingos’ games with New Zealand and Chile.
Ajakaye guided the Flamingos to the bronze medal scoring once at normal time and also in the penalty shootout to ensure Nigeria equaled the record set by Ghana’s Black Maidens in 2012 in Azerbaijan.