In an impressive display, Nigeria's U-17 women's team, the Flamingos, triumphed with a 4-0 victory over Ecuador in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, securing their place in the quarter-finals.
Match Overview
The match, hosted at Estadio Cibao, saw Nigeria continue their strong start following a 4-1 win against New Zealand in their opening game.
First Half Highlights
The Flamingos opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Shakirat Moshood converted a penalty after captain Taiwo Afolabi was fouled. This marked Moshood's second goal in as many matches. Despite missing several chances, including a close effort from Peace Effiong, Nigeria dominated the first half.
Second Half Dominance
In the second half, Nigeria's attacking strength was evident. Harmony Chidi, a top scorer in the qualifiers, netted her first goal of the tournament in the 54th minute, assisted by Effiong. Twelve minutes later, Effiong capitalized on a defensive mistake to score Nigeria's third goal. Moshood rounded off the scoring in stoppage time with her second goal of the match, assisted by Chidi.
Group Standings and Upcoming Matches
This win not only cemented Nigeria's lead in Group A with six points but also underscored their potential as strong contenders in the tournament. The Flamingos are set to face hosts Dominican Republic in their final group match on Wednesday, aiming to maintain their unbeaten streak.
Player Ratings
- Nigeria: Christiana Uzoma (7), Taiwo Adegoke (7), Onyedikachi Ekezie (7), Friday Adulwahab (7), Ayomide Ibrahim (7), Jumai Adebayo (7), Shakirat Moshood (9), Peace Effiong (8), Taiwo Afolabi (8), Harmony Chidi (9)
- Substitutions: Blessing Ifitezue (6), Azeez (3), Rotimi (3)
The Flamingos' performance in this match has set a high bar as they progress further in the tournament.