Nigeria’s Flamingos have qualified for the Round of 16 at the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco after a convincing 4-0 victory over Samoa in Rabat on Saturday.
Forward Queen Joseph scored twice to take her tally to three goals in the tournament, while captain Shakirat Moshood converted from the penalty spot. Defender Azeezat Oduntan also found the net with a superb goal from the wing to seal a dominant win for the Nigerian girls.
The Flamingos went into the match needing a big win to stay in the competition after losing 1-4 to Canada in their opening game and 0-1 to France in their second group match.
They started strongly and got their first goal in the 13th minute when Joseph latched onto a fine pass from Moshood and lifted the ball beyond goalkeeper Grace Ae.
Three minutes later, Ae denied Chisom Nwachukwu with a brilliant save, but she could do nothing in the 27th minute as Moshood calmly scored from the penalty spot after Holly Leapai handled the ball inside the box.
In the 36th minute, Nguemo Terlumun danced through the Samoan defence before setting up Joseph, who finished neatly for Nigeria’s third goal. The Flamingos almost made it 4-0 before half-time when Mariam Yahaya forced Ae into another good save.
Moshood had a chance to extend the lead just after the restart but her second penalty of the game was saved by the Samoan goalkeeper.
However, the fourth goal finally arrived in the 67th minute when Oduntan scored with a well-placed cross, completing a fine performance from the Nigerian side.
The win was enough to secure Nigeria’s place in the Round of 16, as the 2022 bronze medallists continue their chase for another podium finish on African soil.
