TheCable

Nigeria’s Flamingos have booked a place in the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India.

The Bankole Olowookere-led girls achieved the feat after securing a vital 2-1 victory over Chile at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

The Nigerians needed just a draw from the game after their 4-0 victory over New Zealand had put them in a comfortable position in Group B.

Flamingos proved competent to exploit the Chilean defence that let in 6 goals against Germany in their second group game.

Nigeria went ahead in the fourth minute as Opeyemi Ajakaye toe-poked the ball into the path of Blessing Emmanuel who smashed it through the crowded goal area and into the left.

The Flamingos squandered waves of chances as Chile struggled to contain the runs of Ajakaye into pockets of space behind their defence. She blitzed past a couple of Chileans and her cross from the byline was punched into the path of Omowunmi Bello whose weak header was easily cleared off the line.

A handful of brazen goalkeeping displays by Mellado Alvarado also delayed Nigeria’s thirst for a second goal.

Ajakaye’s pin shot from the edge of the area was snuffed out by an alert Alvarado. The goalkeeper produced an acrobatic save to deny Bello who aimed to catch her off the line.

But in the 82nd minute, Flamingos found the cushion they sought. A freekick was floated into the box and Bello directed a header into the path of Bisola Mosaku who stabbed the ball into the net.

The Chileans then put one back late in the game after Omamuzo Edafe handled the ball in the Nigeria goal area and following a prolonged VAR check, Sima Yudelevich scored from the spot.

It was, however, too little and too late for the South Americans as Nigeria progressed to the final eight with six points behind Germany, the group leaders with nine points.

Flamingos will play the winner of Group A — which could be any one of Brazil, the USA, and Morrocco — on Friday.