By Ed Malik, A | ed@ddnewsonline.com | posted Ocotober 17, 2024
Nigeria’s U17 women’s football team began their 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup campaign in spectacular fashion, defeating New Zealand 4-1 in Santiago de los Caballeros.
Shakirat Moshood set the tone with a lightning-fast goal, finding the back of the net just 80 seconds into the match. Faridat Abdulwahab came close to doubling the lead seven minutes later, hitting the crossbar from 23 yards out.
Subscribe To The Best Team In Conservative, Business, Technology, Lifestyle And Digital News Realtime! support@ddnewsonline.com
Nigeria’s second goal came in the 13th minute when defender Taiwo Adegoke’s long-range effort was misjudged by the New Zealand goalkeeper, confirmed as a goal by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
The team maintained relentless pressure, with Moshood again testing the keeper and Peace Effiong and Harmony Chidi also making attempts to extend the lead further.
Captain Taiwo Afolabi stung the goalkeeper’s palms from close range in the 28th minute, and from the resultant corner kick, Abdulwahab easily lifted the ball over the goalie from 16 yards for Nigeria’s third goal.
In the second half, the Flamingos continued their raid on the opposition goal, and eight minutes into the restart, it was 4-0 after Afolabi’s looping header from Adegoke’s cross from the right sailed over the goalkeeper into the net.
Subscribe To The Best Team In Conservative, Business, Technology, Lifestyle And Digital News Realtime! support@ddnewsonline.com
On the hour, Saxon scored a goal right from the training ground, collecting the ball from a corner kick and doing a smart turn to shoot past goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, thus pulling one back for the New Zealanders.
Although Chidi, Nigeria’s top scorer from the qualifying series, was again foiled in the 75th minute, the Flamingos finished on the ascendancy and will look forward to another three points against debutants Ecuador on Saturday, that will take them to the tournament’s knockout stage.