Izuchukwu Okosi
Nigeria’s women’s U-17 national team the Flamingoes on Saturday evening qualified for the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after an aggregate 1-0 win over stubborn Ethiopia girls.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelBankole Olowookere’s team played a goalless draw with the Ethiopians in the return leg at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja after the first leg in Addis Ababa last month ended 1-0 in favor of the Nigerians.
It was the first match in the qualifiers that the Flamingoes failed to score especially at home as the resilient Ethiopians defended in numbers and hoped to hit the Nigerians on counter.
In the match with few chances and missed opportunities, Omowunmi Bello tried a brilliant shot in the 13th minute but Ethiopia goalkeeper Abeba pulled a fine save to deny Flamingos the lead.
In the 70th minute, Taiwo Afolabi had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in front of goal for the Flamingos but missed a sitter while in the 75th minute, Flamingos created a number of chances but could not find a way past in-form Ethiopia goalkeeper Abeba.
A plethora of chances came in the concluding part of the game but a resolute Ethiopian goalkeeper thwarted every effort made by the Flamingoes as the game ended in a barren draw
The teenagers however, qualified on 1-0 aggregate after they won the first leg in Addis Ababa a fortnight ago.
Prolific striker Opeyemi Ajakaiye scored the only goal in Addis Ababa on May 20 to hand the Flamingoes the advantage with her goal tally to six in the qualifiers.
The 7th edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will hold in October.
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.
