Nigeria’s U17 women’s national team kicked off their 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup campaign in style with an emphatic 4-1 win over New Zealand at Estadio Cibao on Wednesday night.
The Flamingos, who clinched bronze in the last edition of the tournament, are aiming even higher this time around, and they sent a clear message of intent with a commanding performance in their opening match.
It didn’t take long for Nigeria to make their mark, as Shakirat Moshood fired home just two minutes into the game after a well-timed pass from Harmony Chidi. That early lead set the tone for what would be a dominant display from the West African side.
Khadijat Adegoke then doubled Nigeria’s advantage in spectacular fashion, unleashing a stunning long-range effort, assisted by Faridat Abdulwahab. Moments later, Abdulwahab joined the scoring sheet herself with a brilliant right-footed strike from outside the box, following a corner delivered by Moshood, making it 3-0 in the 28th minute.
Despite racking up 19 attempts on goal, Nigeria couldn’t add to their tally before the halftime whistle, largely due to some missed opportunities in front of goal.
The second half saw Nigeria pick up right where they left off. Ten minutes in, Adegoke turned provider, setting up Taiwo Afolabi for a header that gave Nigeria their fourth goal of the night.
New Zealand, who had struggled to threaten Nigeria’s defense, managed to pull one back from a corner kick when Hannah Saxon’s shot slipped past goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma. However, the Flamingos’ dominance continued until the final whistle, although they were unable to increase their lead further.
This convincing win puts Nigeria on top of Group A, ahead of Thursday’s clash between hosts Dominican Republic and Ecuador. A victory in their next match against Ecuador on Saturday, October 19, will secure Nigeria a spot in the knockout round. It will be the first time these two nations meet at this tournament.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, defending champions Spain secured a 3-1 victory over the United States, as the Americans continue their quest for a maiden title at this level.
The Flamingos are off to a flying start, and fans will be eager to see if they can maintain this momentum as they aim for glory.