Nigeria’s Under 17 girls national team, the Flamingos sealed their qualification for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup following a 0-0 draw with Algeria on Friday night, www.aclsports.com reports.
Coached by Bankole Olowookere, the Nigerian maidens won the first leg 4-0 at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne last weekend and knowing that only a capitulation of epic proportions could hinder their progress, the Nigerians held firm in Blida, Algeria on Friday.
Holding on to their first leg advantage, the 2002 bronze medallists adopted a calm and collected pattern that easily soaked up the expected pressure from the hosts, and then relied on fast breaks to try and pull the trigger on their opponents.
Although they created the better chances on the night, the Flamingos failed to make dominance in possession pay, but swiftly collected the ticket to Morocco on a 4-0 aggregate win.
The difference over two legs of the final round was a remarkable display in the opening leg by the Flamingos, during which a brace by Queen Joseph, and one each by Zainab Raji and substitute Aisha Animashaun ensured a 4-0 win.
The Flamingos will now be one of Africa’s five representatives (including hosts Morocco) at this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals taking place 17th October – 5th November. The final competition will entertain 24 teams for the very first time.
Since the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup competition was launched in New Zealand in 2008, Nigeria have failed to make the finals only once – the 2018 tournament hosted by Uruguay.
Other African countries to seal their spots on Friday are Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire with the final African representative to emerge between Zambia and Benin on Saturday.
