Izuchukwu OkosiNigeria’s U-17 women’s national team the Flamingos on Tuesday began their 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign in India with a 2-1 defeat against European champions Germany in their first Group B match reports Prime Business Africa.
The Flamingos who are making a return to the tournament after missing the tournament in 2018 when Uruguay hosted scored first through right back Miracle Usani.
The team coached by Bankole Oloworooke has their first real sniff at goal with a powerful shot from top scorer during the qualifiers Opeyemi Ajakaye in the 18th minute who swivelled brilliantly and unleash a fierce shot which Germany goalkeeper Eve Boettcher saved with the fingertip.
Rightback Miracle Usani however put Nigeria in the lead with half an hour on the clock when her well crafted freekick sailed to the bottom left corner.
Svea Stoldt equalised for Germany in the 48th minute from a corner kick while Mara Alber who had many scoring opportunities in the first half eventually saw her efforts pay off when she slotted past Faith Omilani in goal for Nigeria who was left exposed by her defenders in the 61st minute.
Alara Sehitler had a great chance to drill home the third goal for Germany but her shot from the penalty arc was tame and subsequently defender Shakira Oyinlola cleared.
The Germans attacked even further in search of a backbreaking goal but were unable to find a way in five minutes of added time.
Nigeria will face New Zealand in their second group game on Friday. The Kiwis were beaten 3-0 by Chile earlier on Tuesday.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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