Nigeria’s U17 women, the Flamingos, have certified for the Spherical of 16 on the ongoing FIFA U17 Girls’s World Cup in Morocco after a commanding 4-0 victory over Samoa in Rabat.
Ahead Queen Joseph scored twice to take her tally to 3 objectives within the match, whereas captain Shakirat Moshood transformed a penalty, and defender Azeezat Oduntan added a fourth with a intelligent strike from the wing.
The Flamingos went into the match understanding they wanted a convincing win to remain within the competitors after shedding 1-4 to Canada of their opening sport and struggling a slim 0-1 defeat to France.
Nigeria began brightly and took the lead within the thirteenth minute when Joseph completed calmly from a high quality cross by Moshood. Three minutes later, Samoa’s goalkeeper Grace Ae denied Chisom Nwachukwu with a wise save, however Moshood made it 2-0 within the twenty seventh minute from the penalty spot after Holly Leapai dealt with the ball contained in the field.
The stress continued, and within the thirty sixth minute, Nguemo Terlumun danced previous Samoa’s defence earlier than organising Joseph for her second purpose of the sport. Moments earlier than half-time, Mariam Yahaya got here near extending the lead, however her shot was saved by Ae.
Nigeria had an opportunity to extend the lead early within the second half, however Moshood’s second penalty of the sport was saved by Ae. Nevertheless, the fourth purpose arrived within the 67th minute when Azeezat Oduntan scored from a curling cross to seal a well-deserved win.
Goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu additionally impressed with two high quality saves to take care of Nigeria’s clear sheet.
The outcome was sufficient to ship the Flamingos, bronze medallists on the 2022 version in India, into the knockout stage of the match as they proceed their push for an additional sturdy end on the world stage.
Nigeria will now face Italy, within the Spherical of 16.
Spherical of 16 Fixtures – FIFA U-17 Girls’s World Cup 2025
• United States U-17 vs Netherlands U-17 — Tue, Oct 28, 12:30 p.m. WAT
• Brazil U-17 vs China U-17 — Tue, Oct 28, 12:30 p.m. WAT
• Italy U-17 vs Nigeria U-17 — Tue, Oct 28, 4:00 p.m. WAT
• North Korea U-17 vs Morocco U-17 — Tue, Oct 28, 4:00 p.m. WAT
• Mexico U-17 vs Paraguay U-17 — Wed, Oct 29, 12:30 p.m. WAT
• Spain U-17 vs France U-17 — Wed, Oct 29, 12:30 p.m. WAT
• Canada U-17 vs Zambia U-17 — Wed, Oct 29, 4:00 p.m. WAT
• Japan U-17 vs Colombia U-17 — Wed, Oct 29, 4:00 p.m. WAT
