Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, Flamingos, recorded a comfortable 6-0 victory over Burkina Faso at the Moshood Abiola Stadium on Saturday to qualify for the final round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

Goal poacher Harmony Chidi, who scored six of dozens of Nigerian goals in the 12-0 demolition of Central African Republic in the first round and also scored the team’s goal in the 1-1 draw in Bamako last Saturday, came again came out big with a hat-trick in front of delighted spectators in Nigeria’s administrative capital.

She put the Nigerian U-17 girls ahead after 11 minutes, taking advantage of a defensive blunder by the duo of Faridatou Ouedraogo and Obaidatou Nkiema to dribble past goalkeeper Agueratou Baguian.

Four minutes later, Shakirat Moshood’s angled shot was thwarted by the upright, and in the 27th minute, Peace Effiong’s dashing run ended with a tame shot.

Effiong made amends in the 34th minute by flashing some gritty tackles past the overworked Baguian as spectators cheered on the Flamingos.

She should have made it 3-0 with four minutes to go in the first period, but received too much ball contact from four meters.

In the second half, visiting goalkeeper Baguian drew plaudits with an excellent double save from Harmony Chidi in the 55th minute, but the World Cup bronze medalists retained their greater potential for the final quarter.

In the 74th minute, Taiwo Afolabi’s flying volley from 20 yards hit the crossbar, but Chidi was on hand to nod the ball into the net.

Substitute Ramota Kareem made it four in the 84th minute. Two minutes later, Chidi scored her hat-trick with a dipping shot, and with one minute left, Effiong got her brace after a beautiful team move.

The win gave Nigeria a 7–1 aggregate victory and a place in the final round against the winner of the Senegal vs Liberia match.

The first leg is scheduled for Saturday, June 8.

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: Flamingos beat Burkina Faso 6-0 to book place in final round was first published in The Whistler Newspaper

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