Nigeria’s Flamingos kicked off their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over New Zealand on Wednesday, marking a strong start to the tournament in the Dominican Republic.
Early Lead and Dominant First Half
The West African side quickly took control of the Group A encounter, with Shakira Moshood scoring the opening goal just two minutes into the match. Nigeria’s relentless attack paid off as they extended their lead with strikes from Taiwo Adegoke and Fairdat Abdulwahab, making it 3-0 by the 30th minute.
New Zealand struggled to contain the Flamingos’ fluid offensive play, leaving them trailing as the first half ended with Nigeria firmly in control.
Second-Half Performance
The Flamingos continued their dominance in the second half, adding another goal to their tally with Taiwo Afolabi netting the team’s fourth. Despite a comfortable lead, Nigeria continued to push for more goals but were held back by missed opportunities and some poor finishing.
New Zealand managed to pull one goal back, making it 4-1, but rarely posed a significant threat to Nigeria’s defense.
Looking Ahead
Following their impressive win, the Flamingos will shift their focus to their upcoming matches against Ecuador and the host nation, Dominican Republic. Nigeria will face Ecuador on Saturday, October 19th, and then take on the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, October 22nd.
With their eyes set on advancing deep into the tournament, Coach Bankole Olowookere’s side will aim to build on their third-place finish in the last edition of the competition, the best result for the Flamingos in the tournament’s history.
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