By Amaechi Agbo
Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, on Saturday defeated their counterparts from Bénin Republic, Amazons 3-2 in the first leg of a final round qualifying fixture for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.
It was a keenly-contested encounter at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, with both teams underscoring the qualities that have taken them to Africa’s final round of the qualifying series.
Bénin Republic’s forward Romaine Gandonou, who was a thorn in the flesh of the Nigeria rearguard all evening, scored the game’s first goal in the 16th minute with a left-footed rocket from the edge of the eighteen-yard box, to which Nigeria’s goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho had no answer.
The goal did not unsettle the Flamingos, as they pushed harder for goals, and team captain Harmony Chidi saw her chip rise slightly over the bar from Queen Joseph’s good work in the 17th minute.
Nigeria’s equalizer came in the 26th minute, when Queen Joseph scored from a lofty lob that left goalkeeper Elise Kounkpaga flummoxed.
Ijirigho had to be on the alert to save from Gandonou in the 34th minute, but nine minutes later Nigeria also came close as Oluwakemi Adegbuyi’s chip rocked the crossbar.
In the second half, the Flamingos added some urgency to their game, with Chidi seeing her well-taken shot saved by Kounkpaga in the 49th minute, before Favour Nkwocha struck the ball narrowly over the sticks on the hour.
In the 62nd minute, Nigeria went into the lead when substitute Kindness Ifeanyi’s shot was too hot for Kounkpaga to hold, and Adegbuyi was close enough to stab the ball into the net.
The Amazons equalized 11 minutes later, with Nazifatou Dangui shooting past Ijirigho after good work by Gandonou opened up the Flamingos’ defence.
Two minutes later, Nigeria re-established their lead, as Ifeanyi rose above everyone else to nod the ball into the net from a corner kick.
The return leg will take place at the Stade Kegue in Lome, Togo on Saturday next week, with the winner guaranteed a spot in this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals to be hosted by Morocco.
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