Nigeria’s Flamingos have defeated Germany to clinch a consolatory bronze medal in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.
The match ended in a 3-3 draw at a regulation time which resulted into a penalty shootout. The penalty then ended 3-2 in Nigeria’s favour.
Famingos are the second African side to achieve this feat.
In the first half, Nigeria’s forward, Opeyemi Ajakaye broke her goal drought with her brilliant opener for the Flamingos.
Nigeria has failed to qualify for a spot in the final of this year’s U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.
Wednesday’s tie was a historic moment for both Nigeria and Colombia as it was their first Semi-final game ever in the history of the competition.
The Flamingos lost 6-5 to Colombia on penalties in their semi-final clash on Wednesday, October 26.
The game had ended 0-0 after regulation time, as both teams failed to score any goals.
The Flamingos will play the winner of the second semi-final match between Germany and Spain on Wednesday.
Before the game at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, the Flamingos were runners-up in Group B of the competition. They lost to Germany in their first match, dispatched New Zealand, and defeated Chile to earn a last-eight ticket.
The Nigeria’s U-17 female team, also known as Flamingos, have gone viral in a viral chanting and sing Obi after beating their USA counterpart in the ongoing women’s World Cup in India.
Recall that the under-17 girls qualified for the semi-finals of this year’s U-17 women’s World Cup, after beating the USA on penalties in Friday’s quarter-finals.
In a viral video, the girls were heard chanting Obi while celebrating their victory against the USA.
The Labour Party took to its official Twitter handle to claim that the Flamingos are supporters of Peter Obi.
Sharing a video of the girls, LP wrote, “Nigeria under 17 girls are all OBIdients”.
“Watch them chant Peter Obi’s name after today’s victory against the USA in the women’s world cup quarter-finals. Peter Obi is coming”.
Nigeria’s Flamingos beat the US on Friday to reach their first-ever semi-final at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Flamingos won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes of regulation time.
Coming into the game, the Americans were tipped as the favourites but Onamuzo Edafe gave Nigeria the lead just after 25 minutes. A VAR review had confirmed a foul on Amina Bello with the referee wasting no time in pointing to the spot.
The Americans piled pressure on the Nigerians and were rewarded just before half-time. They equalized in the 40th minute through Amalia Martina Villarreal’s strike.
Both teams started the second half trying to get a second goal with the US dominating much of the encounter. But a goal never came resulting in a penalty shootout to decide who goes into the semi-final.
Nigeria will now play the winner of the game (holding on Saturday) between Colombia and Tanzania on Wednesday, October 26th, 2022.
By Mike Oboh
Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has invited 25 players to the camp of the U17 Girls’ National Team ahead of this month’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup India 2022 third round fixture against their Egyptian counterparts.
The Flamingos trounced their counterparts from the Democratic Republic of Congo 8-0 on aggregate (3-0 in Kinshasa and 5-0 in Benin City) to reach the third round of the series. Two goals from Opeyemi Ajakaiye and one each from Tumininu Adeshina, Anastasia Atume and Taiwo Afolabi accounted for the Congolese when they visited Benin City on 19th March.
Bankole has included all his regulars in the list of 25, who have been instructed to report at the Serob Legacy Hotel, Abuja on Sunday, 3rd April for resumption of camping programme.
Goalkeepers Faith Omilana and Linda Jiwuaka, defenders Blessing Sunday, Comfort Folorunsho, Tumininu Adeshina and Miracle Usani, midfielders Blessing Emmanuel, Taiwo Afolabi and Aminat Bello, and forwards Alvine Dah-Zossu, Anastasia Atume and Opeyemi Ajakaiye are among those invited.
The Flamingos will host the Egyptians at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Sunday, 17th April, with the return leg in Cairo on Saturday, 30th April.
FLAMINGOS INVITED TO CAMP FOR EGYPT:
Goalkeepers: Faith Omilana (Honey Badgers); Linda Jiwuaku (Confluence Queens); Jessica Chikamso (Rivers Angels); Doris Ohia (Naija Ratels)
Defenders: Blessing Sunday (Edo Queens); Comfort Folorunsho (Delta Queens); Tumininu Adeshina (Naija Ratels); Mamusoz Edafe (Rivers Angels); Olamide Oyinlola (Naija Ratels); Miracle Usani (Abia Angels); Confidence Nwoha (Nasarawa Amazons); Kemi Soremekun (Confluence Queens)
Midfielders: Blessing Emmanuel (Naija Ratels); Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Chidera Okenwa (Abia Angels); Aminat Bello (SGH Queens); Joy Igbokwe (Mees Palace)
Forwards: Mercy Itimi (Bayelsa Queens); Alvine Da-Zossu (Osun Babes); Anastasia Atume (Honey Badgers); Raheemot Adebayo (FC Robo Queens); Olaide Mosaku (Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens); Opeyemi Ajakaiye (FC Robo Queens); Yetunde Ayantosho (Osun Babes); Adaobi Okah (Edo Queens)
By Mike Oboh
Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos ran riot round their hosts, DR Congo and earned a 3-0 victory in their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup second round, first leg encounter in Kinshasa on Sunday.
The three –time World Cup quarter –finalists started the game like a house on fire, and dominated the hosts to such a degree that it was a surprise the opening goal did not come until the 36th minute.
Defender Miracle Usani drove the ball forward and pulled out for Blessing Emmanuel to score the Flamingos’ first goal of the day. There were near –misses and shunned penalty appeals, so there were no more goals as the first half ended 1-0 in favour of Nigeria.
In the second half, the Flamingos blasted a couple of free-kicks against the wall, and goalkeeper Faoth Omilana ensured there was no silver lining for the home team. In the 63rd minute, Coach Bankole Olowookere threw Raheemot Adebayo and Anastasia Atume into the fray, pulling out Aminat Bello and Kafayat Bashiru. The changes brought instant reward as Atume was fouled near the Congolese goal area, and Tumininu Adeshina rammed the ball into the net for Nigeria’s second.
Atume missed a sitter two minutes later, but with 14 minutes to go, Taiwo Ajakaye took on the Congolese defence and teased out goalkeeper Lumela before finishing smoothly for Nigeria’s third goal. The Congolese finished the tie with only 10 players after Nwanji was shown the red card 20 minutes to full time.
Both teams clash again on Saturday, 19th March at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, with the Flamingos already with a leg into the third round, where they have the U17 girls of Egypt waiting.
By Mike Oboh
Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has called 35 players to the camp of the U17 Girls’ National Team, Flamingos to begin preparations for next month’s 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Flamingos actually started a qualifying campaign for the championship two years ago, defeating their Guinean counterparts home and away, before the global coronavirus pandemic compelled world football –governing body, FIFA to jettison the process and forget the 2020 competition altogether.
However, just like it has done with the U20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA has retained the designated host nation for the 2020 event, India as host for the 2022 finals. The championship will hold 11th-30th October.
The Flamingos will start their campaign for this year’s finals when they play away to the U17 girls of DR Congo in Kinshasa on 6th March 2022. The return leg is scheduled for the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 19th March.
All invited players have been advised to report to the Chida Hotel, Abuja on Monday, 7thFebruary.
Goalkeepers: Christiana Uzoma (Nasarawa Amazons); Faith Omilana (Honey Baggers); Jessica Inyama (Immaculate Queens); Odinaka Nweke (Rivers Angels)
Defenders: Sharon Onwere (Skillful Feature); Loveth Boigyande (Honey Baggers); Vera Samuel (Royal Queens); Comfort Folorunsho (Delta Queens); Blessing Sunday (Edo Queens); Mistura Yusuf (FC Robo); Tumininu Adesina (Naija Ratels); Sandra John (Rivers Angels); Olamide Oyinlola (Naija Ratels)
Midfielders: Imoh Jones (Ibom Angels); Obianuju Akwubo (Osun Babes); Joy Igbokwe (Mees Palace); Taiwo Aseere (Honey Baggers); Mary Popoola (Sunshine Queens); Aminat Folorunsho (Lakeside Academy); Blessing Solomon (Taraba Queens); Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Cynthia Mega (Prince Eletu Queens); Miracle Usani (Abia Angels); Olaronke Ola (Royaltom Queens)
Forwards: Priscilla Omeje (Nasarawa Amazons); Precious Daniel (Waco Girls); Alvine Dah-Zossu (Osun Babes); Halimat Yusuf (Kwara Ladies); Chidera Okenwa (Heartland Queens); Mercy Itimi (Bayelsa Queens); Aminat Bello (SGH Amazons); Kafayat Mafisere (Edo Queens); Raheemot Adebayo (FC Robo); Onyinyechi Kalu (Imo Angels); Kesiena Ojiyoiwi (Osun Babes)
Thirty-nine players have began training in Abuja in preparation for the qualifiers for this year’s FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in India, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Thursday.
Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, disclosed in a statement that a full house of the invited playing body was on ground at the team’s camp at Bluespring Hotel in Abuja.
“The group’s twice-a-day training sessions have also intensified at NFF’s FIFA Goal Project facility inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Complex,’’ he said.
The 2020 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup finals will be the seventh since the competition was launched in New Zealand in 2008.
Nigeria has participated at all five tournaments between 2008 and 2016 but narrowly failed to qualify for the 2018 edition held in Uruguay.
This was after losing to Cameroon on the away goal rule in the final lap of the qualification series.
Olajire disclosed that the players invited to the Abuja camp include Augustina Unamba, Nelly Chukwuebuka, Damilola Amole, Nwacke Odinaka, Favour Edwin, Perpetua Osinachi, Chidinma Ogbuchi, Onumeze Shadrack and Linda Nnaocha.
“Others are Chinyere Kalu, Miracle Ohaneri, Precious Taiwo, Mary Nwakwolam, Chinyere Ihuoma, Idowu Kuku, Uluoma Onwere, Blessing Green, Maryam Abdulkabir and Motunrayo Yusuf.
“Also invited are Olushola Shobowale, Deborah Abiodun, Amarachi Odoma, Esther Inyang, Rofiat Imuran, Ireti Eretan, Dahz Alvin, Foluke Opeyori, Esther Onyenezide and Damilola Oladipo.’’
He listed the rest as Ogechi James, Zepere Azama, Hannah Yusuf, Oluchi Okwara, Opeyemi Ajakaye, Kelechi Chukwumalem, Temilope Owoeye, Jumoke Alani, Yemisi Samuel and Deborah Abiodun.
The NFF spokesman also disclosed that the federation’s General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, had on Thursday given the team’s coaches some words of advice on their task.
He said Sanusi had charged them to place as much premium on good conduct, excellent character and level-headedness as on-field ability in their final selection of players for the team.
Olajire stated that Sanusi spoke when he received the crew of assistant coaches Bankole Olowookere (assistant coach 1), Queendoleen Akpan (assistant coach 2) and Mohammed Ndanusa (goalkeepers’ trainer) at the NFF Secretariat.
“Good character and demeanour, as well as comportment showing good upbringing and sense of purpose, are as important as ability in any profession, football inclusive.
“Anyone who lacks good character and discipline cannot succeed in any endeavour. You must take these to heart as you prepare the girls for the challenges ahead.
“Nigeria has an impressive record in the history of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, but we expect you to do even better than your predecessors.
“I congratulate you on your appointment and I assure you that the NFF will give you maximum support to succeed in the job,” Sanusi was quoted as saying.
The crew had began work on selecting the squad which will face Guinea in a qualifying fixture early next month.
The first leg will hold in Conakry on March 1, while the return leg in Nigeria will hold a fortnight after.
The Guineans had edged out neighbours Guinea Bissau in the preliminary round.(NAN).