Nigeria’s under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, sealed a convinving 9-0 win against Niger Republic in their Group B opener at the WAFU Zone-B U17 Girls’ Cup in Ghana on Thursday, Afrosport reports.
The Flamingos, led by coach Bankole Olowookere, hit seven goals in the first half, having opened the scoring after just five minutes through Aishat Animashaun.
Shakirat Moshood, who starred for the Flamingos at the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 17th minute. The youngster beat Nigerien goalkeeper Ndiaye Basiru with a screamer from about 35 yards.
Moshood quickly got on the scoresheet once more, scoring her second and Nigeria’s third in the 33rd minute before Janet Akekoromowei’s brace made it five at the 42nd-minute mark.
Nigeria got two more goals before the halftime break with Moshood sealing her hat-trick. The Flamingos No. 8 scored her fourth goal just before the hour-mark, while Peace Effiong wrapped up the scoring with 11 minutes left on the clock for Nigeria’s ninth goal.
Olowookere’s side currently sits atop Group B in the five-nation tournament, and will take on Ivory Coast in their final group game on Monday, 16 December.
Elsewhere, hosts Ghana defeated Benin Republic 4-1 in the opening match of the WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup at the Ghanaian Soccer Center of Excellence.
Priscilla Mensah shot Ghana’s Black Maidens into the lead in the sixth minute, before Christiana Ashiaku completed a first-half hat-trick to comfortably put then ahead.
Benin, however, pulled one back in the second half but it only proced to be a consolation as Ghana walked away with maximum points.
Due to Burkina Faso’s withdrawal from the competition before the start of the tournament, both Ghana and Benin have automatically qualified for the semifinals as Group A representatives.
