The U-17 female side, Flamingos have set a quarter-final date on Friday with the USA after defeating Chile 2-1 in the last group B of the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals in India.
Blessing Emmanuel’s goal in the 4th minute of the game and Bisola Mosaku’s strike off a free-kick by dead-ball artist, Miracle Usani with eight minutes left was enough to see Nigeria through at the Kalinga Stadium, despite a late penalty converted by Roverner Tali.
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As was the case against New Zealand on Friday, the Flamingos created a slew of opportunities that were not converted, but Head Coach, Bankole Olowookere assured the team will get even better as the tournament progresses.
“We missed a number of chances again, but I like the spirit of the team and we will get better as we go on in the competition. I am happy we made it into the last eight, and that we sustained our winning mentality despite the fact that we only needed a draw to sail through.”
Germany’s 3-1 win over New Zealand in the other match of Group B meant the Germans finished with the maximum nine points in the group phase, having scored a total of 11 goals and conceding only two.
Nigeria finished with six points, and a plus six goals advantage after scoring seven goals and conceding only two.
Meanwhile, Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Augustine Eguavoen yesterday paid a visit to the camp of the U-23 National team as the Olympic Eagles continued their build-up ahead of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Tanzania.
The former Super Eagles captain and coach was received by the team’s Coordinator, Bashir Badawy at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, as the team was going through a series of training sessions under the supervision of Coach Salisu Yusuf and his lieutenants, Kennedy Boboye, Abubakar Bala and goalkeeper’s trainer, Suleiman Shuaibu.
An excited Eguavoen praised the coaching crew and expressed optimism that the team will soar past Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
The Olympic Eagles are expected to depart the shores of Nigeria on Thursday via Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The first leg of the second round AFCON U-23 qualifiers is scheduled to take place on 22nd October in Tanzania with the return leg slated for Saturday, 29th October at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.
