Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, have taken a step closer to securing a spot at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after a dominant performance against South Africa in the second round of the African qualifiers. The young Nigerian side sealed their progress with a 2-0 victory in the second leg, completing a 5-1 aggregate win over the South Africans.
The match, held at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Saturday, March 15, 2025, saw Nigeria build on their 3-1 first-leg victory in Pretoria. With the advantage firmly in their hands, the Flamingos displayed confidence, controlling possession and dictating the tempo from start to finish.
South Africa came into the second leg needing a strong performance to overturn the deficit, but Nigeria’s defensive discipline and attacking precision proved too much to handle.
The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute, when Harmony Chidi found the back of the net to extend Nigeria’s lead in the tie. The goal deflated South Africa’s hopes of a comeback and energized the home crowd.
Nigeria continued to dominate in the second half, and in the 56th minute, Aishat Animashaun doubled the lead, ensuring the Flamingos secured a convincing win. With a solid defensive setup, Nigeria saw out the game without conceding, capping off an impressive performance over both legs.
With this victory, the Flamingos advance to the final round of the African qualifiers, where they will face another opponent in a two-legged tie for a place in the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, set to be held in the Dominican Republic later this year.
Coach Bankole Olowookere will be pleased with the team’s performances so far, as they have demonstrated attacking efficiency, defensive solidity, and tactical discipline throughout the qualifiers. However, the job is not yet done, as they must now prepare for the crucial final round of qualification.
Final Thoughts
The Flamingos have once again shown why they are one of Africa’s most formidable teams at the youth level. Their blend of skill, teamwork, and resilience has put them within touching distance of another World Cup appearance.
As they prepare for the final qualification hurdle, fans will be eager to see if Nigeria can maintain their momentum and book a spot at the global tournament. One thing is certain: the Flamingos are determined to fly high!
BY Fakorede King Abdulmajeed
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