The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ‘Flamingoes

  • I felt like killing myself when we lost to France – Goal-keeper

    Flamingoes’ goal-keeper Gift Andy said she felt like killing herself after her side lost 3-5 to France in Thursday’s quarter-final match of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan.

    Nigeria’s Flamingoes lost through penalty kicks following a goalless regulation time.

    During the spot-kick, she was unable to save any of the five shots from France’s players leading to the Flamingoes’ elimination from the World Cup.

    The goal-keeper told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the team’s return from Azerbaijan on Friday night, that she almost saved one of the spot-kicks.

    “During the penalty kicks, I thought that I had the ball in my hands, but it slipped into the net.

    “When that happened, I felt like killing myself and have been crying ever since.

    “I feel sad because I should have saved some of the shots but I couldn’t.’’

    She said she was further saddened because the team missed the opportunity to win FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan.

    “It is most painful to me because I am 17 years old, which means I cannot play in the next U-17 World Cup.

    “I have to graduate to U-20, So, I just feel very bad about missing the World Cup,’’ she said.

    The goal-keeper told NAN that she felt bad for falling short of the expectations of Nigerians.

    “Nigerians only want good results and, knowing this, I was determined to excel but luck was not on our side,’’ she said.

    It would be recalled that while the goal-keeper failed to save the spot-kicks, a Flamingoes’ striker missed her shot.

    In her reaction, Sarah Nnodim, the striker who lost her penalty kick, told NAN that she was haunted by the guilt that she gave the victory to France.

    “Taking the penalty kick on Thursday, I was confident that I had selected the right angle, but I do not know what happened and the ball went wide.

    “Because of losing my penalty kick, I felt from that moment as if I had given our opponents the victory,’’ she explained.

    The striker, who scored four goals in her team’s victory over Colombia and host Azerbaijan at the group stage of the Women’s World Cup, said she felt her team had already lost to France the moment she missed her spot-kick.

    “The truth is that, it is very difficult for any goal-keeper to catch a penalty.

    “So, the moment a player misses the spot-kick, it will be difficult for the team to recover.’’

  • We are ready to face France – Flamingoes’ Coach

    We are ready to face France – Flamingoes’ Coach

    Flamingoes’ Coach Peter Dedevbo said his team was battle ready to face France in the FIFA  U-17 Women’s World Cup quarter-final match at the 8 MK Stadium in Baku on Thursday.

    Speaking exclusively to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during their training at the Baku Football Club in Azerbaijan on Tuesday, Dedevbo said the Flamingoes were favourites for the cup.

    “We thank God for qualifying us for the quarter-final stage of this competition. My team is very ready and well prepared to face France on Thursday.

    `We are putting everything into this very match, so that at the end, we will win”.

    He sounded rather philosophical that only God knows who will win Thursday’s match.

    The Coach said: “We want to take every game as it comes. We’ll do our best and leave the rest to God. Only God knows who will win”.

    But he quickly added that,“ the Flamingoes of Nigeria were the favourites for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Nigeria is favourite. We are favourites.

    “Thank God, there is no injury in my team. Everybody is okay”, the Coach said.

    On discipline, he said his team did not record any offence during the group stage of the competition because; discipline and fair play have been drummed into the ears of the girls.

    “We are bringing these young players up and preparing them for Nigeria’s U-20 (Falconets) and the Super Falcons’ squads. So, we always preach morals to them. We inculcate discipline into them.

    “We tell them always that players don’t just get booked for carded offences, anyhow. We make them to understand that it is too early for them to start having yellow and red cards’’

    “We just wish they will grow up in their football careers with this idea of fair play”.

    The coach said that his team was well motivated by the Nigeria Football Federation to perform well and “above all, we motivate ourselves.” (NAN)

  • U-17 Women World Cup: Nigeria through to quarterfinals

    U-17 Women World Cup: Nigeria through to quarterfinals

    Nigeria has qualified for the quarterfinals of the on-going U-17 Women World Cup tournament beating Colombia 3-0 on Saturday.

    The flamingoes will now meet France in the next round.

     

  • FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: ‘Flamingoes’ strength too much for us’

    FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: ‘Flamingoes’ strength too much for us’

    24 hours after Azerbaijan’s 11-0 bashing by Nigeria’s Flamingoes at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, skipper of the side Amina Heydarova has confessed that the Peter Devebo girls were the superior side.

    Speaking with FIFA official website on Wednesday, Heydarova congratulated the Flamingoes for their different brand of soccer.

    “Their (Flamingoes) physical strength was too much for us.That was the great difference between the first and the second game, Nigeria were more powerful than the Colombians. But as you saw in both our previous games we fight until the end,” she said.

    Their swansong at Azerbaijan 2012 will see them face a Canada side that will be looking for at least a point to be certain of qualification for the quarter-finals. While Heydarova still thinks they can beat the Canadians when they meet at Dalga Arena, it is clear her confidence has been knocked.

    Though she never forgets the pride she feel by representing her country as captain, there have been happier times during the two years since the Azeribaijan U-17 women’s team was born for Heydarova. One particular occasion was during a friendly series against Latvia.

    “We played with them twice, winning both times – it was part of our warm-up for the World Cup. Seing Sissy’s joy, cheer and happiness was fantastic. I’ll never forget it.”

    Ultimately she is still driven to push on and represent her country for years to come and remains filled with the fire to succeed. “Of course [I want to play on as a senior]. I’m not working like a Trojan to stop it at the end of the tournament! I’m working hard to become a more talented, experienced player and hopefully I’ll become one,” she added.

  • Flamingoes to play in green

    Flamingoes to play in green

    •Match to hold

    NIGERIA’S U-17 Women National Team otherwise referred to as Flamingoes will stick to his traditional green attire against host side, Azerbiajian in today’s second group A game at the on-going FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. It was the same colours it wore against Canada in its opening game that it drew 1-1 last Saturday in Baku.

    Yesterday’s decision was taken at the usual pre-match meeting with officials of the Federation of International Football (FIFA).

    Team Media Officer, Gracious Akujobi told SportingLife that hostilities will commence at 1pm (Nigeria time). “That will be 5pm here in Azerbiajian,” she said.

    Nigeria needs victory against the host side that lost its opener 4-0 to Colombia.

    Chief Coach, Peter Dedevbo has assured victory.

    The team used the whole of Sunday and Monday to watch its match against Canada in a bid to point out its mistakes especially utilizing its scoring chances.

    “I and my technical crew have sat down to discuss the changes to be made. I can assure Nigerians that the next game will be different,” said Dedevbo.

    Nigeria occupies the second position on the group.

    at 1pm

  • Flamingoes can still top their group — NFF

    Flamingoes can still top their group — NFF

    The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) Barrister Musa Amadu has assured that the Flamingoes are capable of topping Group A in the ongoing FIFA U- 17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan despite playing a pulsating 1-1 draw against Canada in their first group match on Saturday.

    “It was an average result. I don’t have any fear whatsoever as regards the abilities of the team although we lost some scoring chances. We showed clearly in the match that we are a better team than the Canadians.

    “We will correct the mistakes we observed in the first match against Canada in the second group match against the host team Azerbaijan. This is a match we must win convincingly knowing full well that the host team are just cutting their teeth in this level”, the NFF Scribe told SportingLife yesterday.

    He also believed that with the support given to the team so far by the Federation the Flamingoes are capable of going far in the competition. “We have given and are giving all the necessary support to the team out there in Azerbaijan for the Flamingoes to top the group which I am very sure we could”, Amadu assured.

    Flamingoes lost clear cut chances at goal against Canada especially in the first half of the first group match on Saturday and had to come back from a goal down to end the game in 1-1. Colombia defeated the host team 3-0 in the second match to top the group.

  • U-17 Women’s World Cup: Nigeria draw 1-1 with Canada

    U-17 Women’s World Cup: Nigeria draw 1-1 with Canada

    Nigeria’s Flamingoes on Saturday played a 1-1 draw with Canada, in spite of dominating the proceedings in their opening match of the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals.

    In the Group A match played at the Tofig Bahramov Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Nigerian side deserved all three points after having 27 shots on goal as against eight by their opponents.

    The Flamingoes who are making their third consecutive appearance at the competition and were meeting the north Americans for the first time dominated the game from the first half.

    But they could only hit the woodwork three times before the break, with Chinwendu Ihezuo hitting the bar from a header after a corner kick.

    Jiroro Idike’s corner-kick also caused a scare, while Chidinma Edeji equally hammered a shot onto the upright with the Canadian goalkeeper at her mercy.

    But the Canadians broke the deadlock against expectations when substitute Nichelle Prince slipped the ball to Amandine Pierre-Louise who fired past goalkeeper Gift Andy in the 63rd minute.

    The Flamingoes, in spite of being stunned momentarily, however regrouped and again looked the better side, even as they spurned further chances.

    They eventually got the goal that did not look like coming when Yetunde Adeboyejo’s cross from the left was blocked, but fell to Ihezuo who volleyed home a deserved goal with nine minutes to go.

    The result left the Flamingoes with only one point, a disappointing outcome for a team from a country that had won its opening matches in the earlier editions of the competition in 2008 and 2010.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Flamingoes will play their next group match on Tuesday in Lankaran against hosts Azerbaijan, while Canada face Colombia in Baku.(NAN)

  • U-17 W/CUP: Flamingoes quit Portugal for Azerbaijan today

    U-17 W/CUP: Flamingoes quit Portugal for Azerbaijan today

    Nigeria’s Ambassador to Portugal, Her Excellency (Mrs) I.E.C Bristol has charged the Flamingoes to go all out for glory in Azerbaijan later this month.

    Speaking during their last friendly match Saturday afternoon against Primeiro De Dezembro FC where they trounced the team 4-0, she urged the team to make sure Nigeria’s flag was flown at full mast during the tournament.

    “As Ambassadors of our dear nation, I urge you girls to continue behaving well, even when you get to Azerbaijan for the World Cup. You must keep the flag flying,” she said.

    Her Excellency, who was accompanied by her husband, (former Ambassador to France) and special guests for the match which was also used as a farewell before the team departs for Azerbaijan, also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their magnanimity in bringing Flamingoes on a training tour to Portugal.

    “I must commend the Nigeria Football Federation for bringing you girls to Portugal. They have done well to bring you girls here. I commend them for exposing you girls to these first class, high quality and excellent sporting facilities at Browns Sports and Leisure Club. This will go a long way to shaping you for the task ahead.

    “The only way you can repay the efforts of the Nigeria Football Federation is by going to Azerbaijan and winning the trophy,” she said.

    During the match, the Flamingoes missed a lot of scoring chances, but a goal from Chinwe Ezihuo and a hat-trick from Halimat Ayinde made sure that they showed superiority over Primero De Dezembro, who are female league champions of Portugal.

  • ‘Flamingoes won’t underrate opponents’

    ‘Flamingoes won’t underrate opponents’

    Despite being drawn in one of the easiest groups of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, Chief Coach of the U-17 Women National Team, Peter Dedevbo prefers to keep his options open.

    He would rather not be drawn into any issue that is capable of underrating his opponents. “Let our game speak for each team,” he said.

    The Nigeria side kick-start their World up campaign on September 22 against Canada and later play Colombia and host team, Azerbaijan. But Dedevo believes the four teams are evenly matched.

    “As far as l am concerned every team is equal and have the same mission which is to win the trophy. History has taught me never to look down on any team even when you do not know its profile or where it is coming from,” he revealed to SportingLife.

    Referring to \the just-concluded FIFA U-20 Women’s World up in Japan, Dedevbo said Germany never imagined that they would have been dethroned by U.S.A. in the final match given the fact that they were beaten 3-0 by the former champions in the group stage.

    “That was a lesson in humility for the Germans. I am very sure that they came into that game with that same confidence but at the end of the day they lost by a lone goal to a side that refused to be intimidated,” he added.

    “Sometimes people may try forcing words out of you and in the process you end up saying things that you would not have said. But l just want to be careful and do my job which is the reason l am here,” he said.

    Dedevbo guided the team to a quarter final outing at the last tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.

    Meanwhile, the team which has been training in Portugal for its last phase of preparations is due to fly out to Azerbaijan on Monday, September 17.