Nigeria women U17 team, Flamingoes, recorded a big victory on Saturday evening in their India 2020 U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers (U17WWCQ) against Guinea.
The Flamingoes defeated Guinea 6-1 to earn a crucial away victory at the September 28 Stadium in Conakry ahead of the return leg in Lagos.
Firing on all cylinders was Osun Babes striker Yemisi Samuel who grabbed a hat-trick and also Rofiat Imuran who bagged a brace as Nigeria emerged victorious banishing the ghost of Uruguay 2018 which they failed to qualify.
As expected, Nigeria began the game the brighter of both sides and it only took three minutes for Chinyere Kalu to open the scoring for the visitors. Some minutes later, Samuel scored a 35 yard screamer to double the lead for Bankole Olowookere’s girls.
From then on, Nigeria controlled the game and when into the break 3 goals ahead courtesy Kalu, Samuel and Imuran.
In the second half, the Flamingoes took off from where they left off in the first half as Imuran made it 4-0 in favour of Nigeria.
Despite leading by 4 goals, the girls from Guinea were able to breach Nigeria’s defence line and go beyond Nelly Ekeh in goal for the Flamingoes and this eventually resulted in a goal for the home side.
But the Flamingoes kept pushing for more goals and we’re eventually rewarded for their efforts as Samuel scored her second and third of the game in added time to make it 6-1 for the Flamingoes.
Nigeria will hosts Guinea in the second leg on March 14 at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.
After the second leg in Nigeria, the winner of the tie will face Ghana or Liberia in the second and final round of the U17WWCQ qualifying series in May.
