The Flamingoes of Nigeria qualified for the quarter-finals of the U-17 Women’s World Cup after a dazzling performance, where they beat Ecuador 4-0.
The girls hope to improve on their third-place finish from the last edition, and two impressive performances against New Zealand and Ecuador seem to show that they are heading in that direction.
Lineups
The Flamingoes lined up in a 4-4-2 shape with an unchanged lineup from the game against New Zealand. Notable among them were playmaker Shakirat Moshood who scored and assisted last time out, and Taiwo Afolabi, who got a goal against New Zealand.
Ecuador stayed in a 4-2-3-1 shape, with Rodríguez, Estupiñan, Andrade, Zambrano, Camacho, Pico, Burgos, Chiuchiolo, Delgado, and Guerra all past the starting lineup.
How The Match Unfolded
The Flamingoes looked to make a fast start like the game against New Zealand, and we were rewarded for their attacking mindset after Taiwo Afolabi was found in the box. This led to a penalty that Shakirat Moshood converted to give the girls the lead.
They had more chances, with Peace Effiong twice denied by Maria Rodriguez at the 18th and 30th minutes of the game and Harmony Chidi but the bar at a certain point in the game.
However, The Flamingoes quickly doubled their lead after Harmony Chidi’s effort went into the net following Aishat Animashaun’s assist.
Ecuador was agile in making defensive errors, with one latched upon by Peace Effiong, who slotted it into the back of the net for a third of the night.
Shakirat Moshood added a fourth in extra time after Harmony Chidi’s cross found her, with the winger picking her spot beautifully to wrap the win for the Nigerians.
The Flamingoes dominated Ecuador in the attack, midfield, and with a solid defense. Shakirat Moshood remains a standout player, contributing much to the team’s success. The team’s discipline and cohesion were evident, and their ability to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes was central to their victory.
What’s Next
With six points from two games, the Flamingoes have qualified from their group into the quarters. On Tuesday, they will face the Dominican Republic.
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