BY Idris Shehu
Nigeria’s Flamingoes have qualified for the U-17 Women’s World Cup following a 1-0 aggregate victory over Ethiopia.
The Bankole Olowokere-led girls shored up their defence and held fast to a goalless draw in the return fixture of their clash against the East Africans at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on Saturday.
Opeyemi Ajakaiye, the team’s highest goal scorer through the qualification round, had given the Flamingoes an advantage over the Ethiopians with her well-taken goal in the first leg at Addis Ababa.
However, the Nigerians, who have netted a staggering 15 goals en route to the final game, were repelled by the reinvigorated Ethiopians in the second leg.
Ethiopia’s Abeba Ajibo Afa was alert and thwarted numerous attempts on goal by the Flamingoes.
The Nigerians also refused their opponents an opportunity to equalise and booked a place for their sixth World Cup appearance.
The Flamingoes join two other African representatives at the competition — Morroco and the winner of the tie between Cameroon and Tanzania.
Nigeria were ruthless throughout the qualifiers, steamrolling DR Congo 8-0 on aggregate before putting another six behind Egypt in the penultimate round.
The 2022 U17 Women’s World Cup will take place in India between October 11 and 30.
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