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Tag: ‘Flamingoes

  • Uruguay 2018: Flamingoes scrape through to final round

    Uruguay 2018: Flamingoes scrape through to final round

     

    Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingoes scraped through to the final round of the African qualification series for the 6th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup on Saturday, but only on the away goal rule after tying 1-1 with Ethiopia on aggregate.

     

    The saving grace was the away goal in the 1-1 draw in Addis Ababa in the first leg a forthnight earlier, as the Flamingoes were downright disappointing even with Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu and NFF President Amaju Pinnick seated in the VIP box.

     

    There was no discernible pattern to the game of Bala Nikyu’s girls, and their output cried for an overhaul ahead of the final round of the series against the Cameroon U17 girls in seven weeks’ time.

     

    Even when they managed to get into the opponents’ six-yard-box, they contrived to let the visitors off the hook. Substitute Abibat Abdulgodir was the only one who had an idea of the urgency of the day, but her deliveries from the right were wasted one after the other.

     

    “There is a big difference between the U20 girls that we have become used to here in Benin and these U17 girls. I believe that the team will become much better with good coaching before the next round of matches,” Deputy Governor Shaibu told the media at the end.

     

    NFF President Pinnick was glad the Flamingoes got through to the second round: “The coaches have a lot of work to do. Now that the team is in the final round, and they have some time to work on the squad, I believe they will do what is necessary to turn the team around. We use this opportunity to appreciate the Edo State Government for their tremendous support for all our women teams.”

     

    Chairman of the NFF Women’s Football Committee, Hon. Ayo Omidiran insisted the team is work-in-progress: “The coaches have some weeks at hand to do proper work with the girls and bring in others who can help the squad. The performance today was not gratifying. But I plead with all Nigerians to continue to support all our women teams, including the U17 girls.”    

  • Flamingoes go for victory against Ethiopia

    Flamingoes go for victory against Ethiopia

     

    Head Coach Bala Nikyu says his Nigeria U17 girls, Flamingoes are prepared to take the match to their Ethiopian opponents and guarantee a place in the final round of African qualifiers for next year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay.

     

    “We are much prepared even than we were for the first leg in Addis Ababa. Collectively, we have worked on the noted areas of weaknesses and we are good to go for Saturday in Benin,” Nikyu told thenff.com.

     

    The Flamingoes, who have participated in every edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup since the competition was launched in New Zealand nine years ago, are the bookmakers’ favourites to sail into the final round of the series and earn a berth in the sixth edition in South America.

     

    All is set for the return leg encounter at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City as from 4pm on Saturday, after the Ethiopian delegation arrived in Abuja on Thursday and was immediately flown to the Edo State capital.

     

    Both teams finished the first leg 1-1 at the Addis Ababa Stadium, with Joy Jerry putting the Nigerian girls in front after 20 minutes as they struggled to cope with the biting weather, and although the hosts created a number of chances, the scoreline stayed that way until the end of the first half. Ethiopia equalized in the second half with a free –kick from 35 metres that stunned goalkeeper Christian Obia.

     

    In the first leg, Coach Nikyu started with Christiana Obia, Omowunmi Oshobukola, Onyinyechi Christopher, Favour Emmanuel, Esther Momoh, Fehintola Mabokanje, Yetunde Fajobi, Grace Aondoseer, Martha Vincent, Esther Onyenezide and Joy Jerry. On the substitutes’ bench were goalkeeper Omini Oyono, Mercy Idoko, Oluchi Nnadi, Patricia Innocent, Tarnum Dooshima, Abibat Abdulgodir and Victoria Bassey.

     

    The winner on aggregate will take on the winner of the Cameroon/Algeria fixture in the second and final round of the series. Cameroon defeated Algeria 4-0 away in Algiers a forthnight ago.

     

    The 6th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals will hold in Uruguay 20th November – 13thDecember 2018. 

  • Flamingoes will be better next time – Nkiyu

    Flamingoes will be better next time – Nkiyu

    Nigeria U-17 coach, Nikyu Bala was not in tears after his team crashed out of the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’ s World Cup and has blamed it on inexperience.

    The Flamingoes were sent packing from the ongoing tournament in Jordan after they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by one of the superpowers of women football, North Korea, on Saturday.

    “In football you must have a winner and a loser and, in the spirit of the game, if you lose, you take it. Football is like that. If you conceded goals, you conceded goals,” Bala told fifa.com in his post match comments.

    “The journey has been cut short for many teams. Many teams are leaving Jordan by Monday. For us, it’s not about feeling bad. We have taken part in the World Cup and that is a wonderful experience.

    “For most of the players, this was a new experience for them. A new and great experience. Next time, they can be better.  ”

  • Flamingoes lose to Brazil in World Cup opener

    Flamingoes lose to Brazil in World Cup opener

    NIGERIA’S U17 girls, Flamingoes lost 0-1 to their Brazilian counterparts in the opening match of Group C of the 5th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Amman yesterday.

    Showing little of the great pace and technical savvy that saw them score 16 goals and conceding none in their four African qualifying games against Namibia and South Africa, the Flamingoes were a shadow of themselves at the King Abdullah II International Stadium.

    Arit Itu headed a free kick from the left over the bar and captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Folashade Ijamilusi missed a good pull –out by Abidemi Ibe, before Ajibade and Christy Ucheibe were foiled within seconds by the brilliant Kemmeli, in goal for Brazil.

  • Flamingoes thrash Namibia 5-0 in Windhoek

    Flamingoes thrash Namibia 5-0 in Windhoek

    Nigeria U-17 Women silenced hosts Namibia 5-0 in the second round, second leg qualifier for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier.

    A brace from Cynthia Aku plus strikes from Rasheedat Ajibade, Patience Dike and Yetunde Fajobi were all the Flamingoes needed to brush aside the Baby Gladiator and qualifier 9-0 on aggregate at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.

    The hosts came in to the game with the aspiration of erasing the four goals deficit suffered in the first leg in Abuja but they were unable to curtail the fire powers of the Nigerian girls.

    Patience Dike began the rout in the sixth minute before Cynthia Aku doubled the lead in the 37th minutes as Nkiyu’s girls went into the half time break with a two-goal lead.

    Aku completed her brace in the 57th minute before Rasheedat Ajibat and Yetude Fajobi ended the dreams of Mervin Mbekara’s wards.

    Nigeria will meet South Africa for a chance to qualify for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup billed for Jordan.

  • Tough game awaits Flamingoes in Windhoek -Namibian coach

    Tough game awaits Flamingoes in Windhoek -Namibian coach

    Coach Mervin  Mbakera of Namibia on Saturday said his team would give Nigeria’s Flamingoes a good fight in their return match in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

    The Flamingoes, Nigeria’s national under-17 women football team, defeated the Baby Gladiators of Namibia 4-0 in a second round first leg match.

    The match was played at the Abuja National Stadium’s main bowl, while the second leg match will take place in a fortnight  in Windhoek.

    Mbakera, who is the Baby Gladiators’ head coach, however told newsmen that while the Nigerian team was stronger than his team, he was sure they were not better.

    “I will praise my team because they fought well, even though their efforts could not yield them a good result. But, we will not lose our second leg game.

    “We have seen our mistakes, and we will go back home to correct them and prevent the Flamingoes from beating us in the second leg. The Nigerian team is not super.

    “The goals we conceded were due to minor mistakes caused by my players,’’ he said.

  • World Cup preparation: Flamingoes coach raises alarm

    World Cup preparation: Flamingoes coach raises alarm

    Nigeria’s U-17 Women’s team, the Flamingoes, will face Namibia in the first round of the qualifying fixture for the 2016 FIFA Women’s World Cup and Coach Bala Nikyu insists there’s very little time to prepare for the double header.

    Namibia defeated Botswana 3-2 on aggregate to set up a first round meeting against the Flamingos in the week commencing January 8, 2016.

    Speaking with footballlive.ng Nikyu welcomed the South African challenge as his team could progress to face either South Africa or Zambia.

    Nigeria are favourites to win the encounter following their clean slate in previous outings of the qualifiers.

    Jordan has been named as host of the competition in October.

  • U-17 WORLD CUP Q/FINAL EXIT Flamingoes apologise to Nigerians

    U-17 WORLD CUP Q/FINAL EXIT Flamingoes apologise to Nigerians

    THe Flamingoes have apologised to Nigerians for their failure to progress beyond the quarter-final following a 3-0 loss to Spain at the ongoing FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica yesterday morning.

    A brace from Patri Guijarro and one from Nahikari Garcia were all the Europeans needed to book a place in the semi final of the competition at the expense of Bala Nikyu’s side, as the Nigerians once again missed out on making it past the quarters.

    Speaking after the game, Flamingoes’ assistant captain Uchenna Kanu appealed to Nigerians to bear with the team as it was never their intention to lose the encounter.

    Uchenna, while admitting disappointment with her side’s loss to Spain and quarterfinal exit, lamented the quality of officiating, but foresaw Nigeria winning the next edition of the tournament.

    “I’m not happy that we lost, I’m not happy that we are out of the competition. I believe football is a game of luck, it can favour anybody, any day, but we thank God none of us sustained any injury.

    “The way it happened today, I don’t know what happened with the referee and everything seemed to be against us. I know it’s not a thing of joy to lose and not only losing, getting out of the tournament; it’s very appalling.

    “It’s normal for them (Nigerians) to be angry and disappointed when people think you will get somewhere. It is just sad but I don’t think they should kill us because we lost the match or because we are out of the tournament – I believe that one day the trophy will come to Africa, Nigeria to be precise. They should bear with us,” she pleaded.

    Striker and captain of the Nigerian side, Chiwendu Ihezuo also registered huge disappointment with the Flamingoes’ exit from the age-grade competition, insisting something went wrong in the match against Spain.

    “I feel very bad about the outcome of the match. I don’t know what happened to us today. I know they (Nigerians) are very disappointed in us. We just appeal to them that we are very sorry. This is not the end of the world. We will still try our best next time,” the Pelican Stars forward said amidst tears.

    Although Flamingoes’ head coach Bala Nikyu praised the standard of the competition, he expressed displeasure over his team’s performance and the outcome of the quarterfinal game against Spain.

    “Although we’re disappointed that our adventure has ended so early, we’ve really enjoyed taking part in this marvellous FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup; it has been fantastically well organised.

    “It goes without saying that I’m not happy with the way the match panned out or our performance, but there’s nothing we can do about it now except try to put it behind us,” an upset Nikyu said.

    The Nigerian side departed Liberia, the venue of the quarter final on Friday morning (yesterday evening in Nigeria), for Madrid, from where it will connect a flight to Lagos. The team will then leave for its final destination in Abuja this morning.

  • FIFA U-17 World Cup: Idoko hails Flamingoes’ exploit

    FIFA U-17 World Cup: Idoko hails Flamingoes’ exploit

    Mike Idoko, Director, Technical and Management, Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), has hailed the qualification of Flamingoes for the quarter final of FIFA U-17 Women World Cup in Costa Rica.

    Idoko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Akure that the team showed class by coming from behind to win the match and qualify.

    NAN reports that Nigeria came from a goal down to beat Colombia 2-1 in their second game of the tournament.

    The match was played at the Estadio Alejandro Morera in Alajuela on Wednesday.

    Goals from Joy Bokiri and Uchenna Kanu gave the Flamingoes victory after the Colombians had taken the lead in the 3rd minute through Angie Rodriguez.

    Idoko said that the team could win the tournament with the character shown so far.

    “The team can go all the way to win the tournament if they can improve more on their performance.

    “I want the technical crew to work more on the defence of the team.

    “This will prevent the team from conceding any goal in every game because they are going to the knock out stage now,” Idoko said.

    He charged the team to come back with the trophy and emulate the Golden Eaglets.

    Nigeria had defeated China 2-1 in the opening game of the Group D.

  • FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: ‘Flamingoes still work in progress’

    FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: ‘Flamingoes still work in progress’

    The Technical Director, Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Emmanuel Ikpeme, on Wednesday said the under- 17 female national team, the Flamingoes, are still a work in progress for the U-17 Women’s World Cup.

    Ikpeme told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that the Flamengoes could do better than their 5-1 win over Ghana in the course of two friendly matches.

    NAN recalls that the Flamingoes had defeated their Ghanaian counterparts 3-0 in Abuja and 2-1 in Accra, as both teams prepared for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

    “It goes without saying that they have started having confidence in view of what they played last week in Ghana. Not just the first leg here, but outside, because that is the most important one, when you travel out and play, that is when one can properly assess you (to know) how good you are.

    “So, I think there is hope based on what they have just done, that we have got a team; but that is not to say that we are there yet. We still have a lot of work to do especially in the area of shooting, because from what we saw in Ghana, they really had no problem entering the Ghanaians’ 18 (vital area) box, but the issue was shooting.

    “I guess the coaches have seen that, I think they are going to be working on that. We are working on them to ensure that they have a good outing in Costa Rica.“

    Ikpeme said Nigeria’s opponents at the group stage should not pose problems for the Flamingoes owing to the girls’ adequate preparation for the Mundial.

    “As a person, I don’t look at teams that may cause a problem or not cause a problem. The truth of the matter is that for any team to qualify for any FIFA-organised competition, that team is as well as good.”