Tag: Flamingos

Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, fired from all cylinders to record a 9-0 win over their counterparts from Niger Republic , in yesterday’s  second match of this year’s WAFU U17 Girls’ Cup, taking place in Ghana.

The Flamingos started brilliantly, with Aishat Animashaun scoring after only five minutes, following an in-swinger by Mary Mamudu. FIFA World Cup star Shakirat Moshood then started her own song, as she produced a screamer from 35 yards that saw the ball sail above Nigerien goalkeeper Ndiaye Fatai Basiru for the second goal in the 17^th  minute.

Six minutes later, the ever-relentless Moshood scored her second and Nigeria’s third, assisted by Animashaun, and in the 33^rd  minute, Janet Akekoromowei made it four by netting from close range.

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Akekoromowei escaped the attention of Nigerien defenders in the 42^nd  minute to power home for Nigeria’s fifth, and nicked her hat-trick almost immediately after with a powerful header.

Moshood, not to be outdone before recess, got her own hat-trick in the 45^th  minute to make it 7-0 against the hapless neighbours-to-the-north at half time.

Moshood was on song again just before the hour, collecting the ball high up the pitch and making a solo drive to fire past Ndiaye for her fourth and Nigeria’s eighth.

With 11 minutes left on the clock, Peace Effiong opted to have her own name on the score-sheet, when she fired from outside the box to beat Ndiaye for Nigeria’s ninth goal.

The Flamingos will next take on their counterparts from Cote d’Ivoire on Monday.

General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi has formally welcomed the U17 Women National Team, Flamingos, from the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in the Dominican Republic, saying the ladies put up a good fight and need to be encouraged despite quarter final elimination by the United States of America.

 “The Nigeria Football Federation is proud of the Flamingos and the efforts they put into the competition. Two years ago, they defeated the USA on penalties at the same stage, on their way to collecting the bronze medals. That is football for you.

 “If you watched their games, you will agree that the girls put up a great fight in every match. They swept through their group phase, collecting the maximum nine points and scoring nine goals while conceding only one. They created several chances against the USA but were quite unlucky. This is a good team and the players must be encouraged going forward. I believe a good number of them have the skill, temperament and discipline to progress to the U20 squad.”

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The Flamingos’ delegation returned to Nigeria on Tuesday, after the 0-2 defeat in the hands of USA in Santiago de los Caballeros ended their race in the tournament. The girls had spanked New Zealand 4-1, routed Ecuador 4-0 and pipped host nation Dominican Republic 1-0 in overhauling their Group A.

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere said: “Against the USA, it was simply not our day. The girls created opportunities but the ball just wouldn’t go in. The Americans took their chances, and that is football for you. We will start work immediately at raising an even stronger team for the next edition, as the tournament is now annual and the work must start now.”

The FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Dominican Republic will be the last to be played on biennial basis, with the competition to be played yearly from next year and Morocco to host the first five editions.

Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos will gun for the maximum points when they take on their counterparts from New Zealand tonight in what is actually the first match of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in the Dominican Republic.

Although the game between host nation Dominican Republic and Ecuador (the other fixture in Group A) is billed as the opening match, Nigeria and New Zealand will do battle at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros from 4pm local time (9pm in Nigeria), while the host nation and Ecuador will square up as from 9pm local time (2am Thursday in Nigeria).

Bronze medallists in the last edition of the competition in India, the Flamingos are aiming to go farther this time, with Head Coach Bankole Olowookere insisting that he has the ammunition to overcome opponents on their way.

 “I have confidence in the girls to deliver the goods at this competition. We have come well-prepared to do even better than we did in India. The Nigeria Football Federation have done everything to prepare the team well, with a two-week final camping here in Dominican Republic.

 “We do not under-rate any of our opponents. However, we will take it one match at a time and produce our best in each game in order to go all the way.”

Read Also: Dominican Republic: Olowookere lists Afolabi, Chidi, Effiong, 18 others for World Cup

The Flamingos have previously missed taking part in only one edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals – the 2018 finals in Uruguay.

In the qualifying campaign for this year’s finals, the Nigerian girls notched 25 goals in six matches, with 13 of them scored by clinical forward Harmony Chidi.

After the encounter with New Zealand on Wednesday night, the Flamingos will confront their counterparts from Ecuador, also at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, before their final group phase game against the host nation at the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo. The clash with Ecuador is on Saturday, 19th  October while the battle with the host nation is on Tuesday, 22nd  October.

Flamingos attacker Harmony Chidi has played down the threat posed by New Zealand as Nigeria  open her account tonight  at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Dominican Republic.

The Nigeria’s representatives will also square up with Ecuador and the Dominican Republic and Chidi who plays for Heartland Strikers Ladies in Owerri believes the  Flamingos do not fear their group foes.

“These three teams in our group, they are humans like us. I don’t believe that any of them is a threat. No matter the team it is, we are beating them,” Chidi said in an interview with FIFA Media. 

“We want to prove a point, and we want to make it count for our coach. All we are thinking about is for us to defeat our group opponents,” she said.

Meanwhile, New Zealand head coach, Alana Gunn, is confident her girls would start their  campaign  with a good result against Nigeria.

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Gunn said she was drawing an inspiration from the country’s past representatives in the competition who have left indelible marks.

“It is going to be a privilege to lead the team at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and I’m really pleased with the squad we have assembled after a competitive selection process,” Gunn said.

“Having a number of the squad be part of the group for the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2024 last month has been good preparation for us, so we are looking to continue building on that momentum and challenging ourselves at the highest level.

“We know New Zealand have obviously done great things at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup so we want this generation to take inspiration from that success and we look to proudly represent the country in Dominican Republic,” she said

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has invited 35 players to the camp of Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, as the team commences the first phase of final preparations for the 8^th  FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals to be staged in the Dominican Republic later this year.

The Nigerian girls notched an awe-inspiring total of 25 goals in six matches in the qualifying race, routing the Central African Republic by six goals in each leg, dismissing Burkina Faso 7-1 on aggregate in the third round and turning back Liberia 6-1 on aggregate in the final round.

Extraordinary poacher Harmony Chidi, who set a jaw-dropping record of 13 goals in the qualifying series, tops the list of invitees alongside her strike partner Peace Effiong, with team captain Taiwo Afolabi, goalkeeper Chrstiana Uzoma and defender Prisca Nwachukwu also prominent.

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The 8^th  FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals will be staged in the cities of Santiago de los Caballeros and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, 16^th  October – 3^rd  November.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Christiana Uzoma (Edo Queens); Elizabeth Boniface (Sunshine Queens); Sylvia Echefu (Confluence Queens); Mary Igieneh (Osun Babes); Juliana Simon (Youthsfon Kaduna)

Defenders: Prisca Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers); Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels); Taiwo Adegoke (Remo Stars Ladies); Oluwatoyin Olowookere (Ekiti Queens); Rokibat Azeez (New Generation FA); Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Vivian Ekezie (Heartland Queens); Ololade Isiaka (Abia Angels); Timilehin Faluyi (Asisat Oshoala Academy); Elizabeth Adesuyi (Castmog Ladies)

Midfielders: Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Mary Aderemi (Bayelsa Queens); Farida Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons); Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens); Oghenemairo Obruthe (City Sports); Queen Joseph (Fosla Academy); Farikike Moses (Dannaz Queens); Amarachukwu Onuorah (Edo Queens); Justina Owolabi (Ondo State Academy); Adanna Nwachukwu (Naija Ratels)

Forwards: Yetunde Ayantosho (Heartland Queens); Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers); Kudirat Arogundade (Green Foot); Ramota Kareem (Honey Badgers); Aisha Animashaun (Naija Ratels); Peace Effiong (Rivers Angels); Blessing Ifitezue (Delta Queens); Muinat Rotimi (Nakamura Football Academy); Aishat Bolarinwa (Ghetto Tigers); Azeezat Oluwole (Right Vision Academy)

FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024  

Group A: Dominican Republic, Ecuador, New Zealand, Nigeria

Group B: Spain, USA, Korea Republic, Colombia

Former Flamingos defender and FIFA U17 World Cup 2022 Bronze medalist, Omamuzo Edafe,  is now with Arkansas State (USA) University team, Red Wolves Soccer.

The dependable defender joined the side after her exploits at the World Cup in India, where she scored the winning penalty against USA in the quarterfinals.

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Omamuzo wears jersey number 24 for her team. She has graduated to the Falconets under Christopher Danjuma and got invitations for the African Games in Ghana and the World Cup qualifiers.

Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos have been drawn in group A of the 8th  FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals alongside host nation and debutants Dominican Republic, Ecuador and New Zealand.

The draw ceremony held on Saturday night at the Fray Anton de Montesinos Monument in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic, also served Africa’s other flag-bearers Kenya and Zambia into groups C and D respectively. Kenya will duel with Korea Democratic People’s Republic, Mexico and England, while Zambia are up against Japan, Poland and Brazil.

Read Also: Chidi nets brace to fire Flamingos to U17 Women’s World Cup

Reigning world champions Spain head group B which also has USA, Korea Republic and Colombia.

The finals will hold  between 16th  October and 3rd  November, with all 32 matches to be played in the two cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago de los Caballeros.

Group A: Dominican Republic, Ecuador, New Zealand, Nigeria

Group B: Spain, USA, Korea Republic, Colombia

Group C: Korea DPR, Mexico, Kenya, England

Group D: Japan, Poland, Brazil, Zambia

Nigeria have booked their place at the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup after beating Liberia [6-1] on aggregate in the final round of the qualifying series, Soccernet.ng reports.

Flamingos forward, Harmony Chidi netted a goal in each half to power Nigeria to a [2-0] victory over Liberia in the second leg of the final playoff.

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Nigeria had last week claimed an impressive [4-1] win over their West African neighbours at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Liberia.

Nigeria’s highest goalscorer during the campaign, Chidi scored one of Flamingos’ four goals in the first leg and opened the account for coach Bankole Olowookere-tutored girls in the return fixture.

FIFA World Cup bronze medallists Nigeria routed Liberia 4-1 in a fast-paced FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round, first leg encounter in Monrovia.

The Flamingos got off to a pretty quick start at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex at the Paynesville, but the Liberian girls, who shocked Senegal on the away-goal rule to reach this final round, warded off the early threats.

Nigeria got the ball into the net after 14 minutes, but Chadian referee Lare Lamngar ruled it off. Not to be deterred or discouraged, the Flamingos poured forward once again, and in the 19th minute, Shakirat Moshood opened the scoring from a sweet solo run.

Peace Effiong, who got a brace in the 6-0 defeat of Burkina Faso at the MKO Abiola National Stadium last month, scored in the 29th minute to put a wedge of respect between the two teams.

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Usual suspect Harmony Chidi, scorer of six of the 12 goals that sank the Central African Republic, and who equally netted four in the 7-1 dismissal of Burkina Faso in the last round, headed home her 11th goal of the qualifying series in the 36th minute to put daylight between both teams.

On resumption, Nigeria continued to dominate, and substitute Blessing Ifitezue made it four with 16 minutes left.

Liberia scored a consolation goal with five minutes left, from the penalty spot, through Yassah Gwaikolo, after substitute Onyedikachi Ekezie was adjudged to have committed a foul in the area.

The Flamingos will return to Nigeria on Tuesday, and immediately commence preparations for the return leg encounter scheduled for Friday at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.