Nigeria’s national U-20 women’s team, the Flamingoes, showed no mercy as they handed a 3-0 defeat to their counterparts from Kenya in a World Cup qualifying game played at the MKO Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday, according to a report monitored on Premium Times website.
Nigeria already had a 2-0 advantage from the first leg played in Nairobi, Kenya two weeks ago and Saturday’s victory gave the Flamingoes a 5-0 aggregate win over the East Africans.
Playing in front of an appreciable crowd on the astro turf pitch at the MKO Stadium, the Flamingoes came out smoking from the blast of the whistle.
Patience Okaeme, who scored the two goals for Nigeria in the first leg in Nairobi, had the first chance of the day but her shot hit the side of the net.
Bokahkiri Joy also saw her shot parried away by the Kenyan goalkeeper, Susan Anuma, 10 minutes into the game.
After settling into the game, the Kenyans adopted a defensive strategy and were able to hold the Flamingoes in the first half.
Better second half
On resumption for the other half, the Flamingoes pushed forward more and more and were rewarded in the 50th minute as a perfect strike by Joy caught the Kenyan keeper napping.
Adeboyejo doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 68th minute after making a beautiful run from the left flank.
Substitute Ayinde Halima completed the routing in the dying minutes of the game after capitalising on the mistake of the Kenyan defence.
With this victory, Nigeria has moved into the next stage of the qualifiers where they will now meet Zambia.
The next FIFA U-17 World Cup is billed for Azerbaijan later in the year and Nigeria is seeking one of the tickets to represent Africa.