Nigeria’s Flamingoes thrashed DR Congo 3-0 in the second round of the India 2022 FIFA U-17 women’s World Cup qualifier in Kinshasa on Sunday.
Goals from Blessing Emmanuel, Oluwatunmininu Adeshina and Opeyemi Ajakaye.
After a tight opening exchange, Flamingoes broke the deadlock on 36 minutes thanks to Emmanuel who finished off a cross.
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In the 66th minute Flamingoes doubled their lead this time through Adeshina.
DR Congo had a player sent off in the 70th minute after Nwanji was shown a red card following a harsh tackle on Alvine Dah Zossu.
With 14 minutes left Flamingoes got their third goal as Ajakaye rounded the keeper before slotting into the net.
The second leg comes up on Saturday 19 March in Benin City, Edo State.
Three teams will represent Africa at this year’s tournament which will run from 11 – 30 October.
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_Ferocious Flamingos Cruise Past Hapless Congo in Kinshasa_
Nigeria move closer to World Cup qualification with a ravishing 3 goals to nothing victory against their hapless hostesses the Young Leopards of Congo.
Goals from beautiful Blessing Emmanuel, audacious Oluwatunmininu Adeshina and tantalising Taiwo Ajakaye were all it took to send their Congolese counterparts to the gallows.
Congo Under – 17 Women’s coach Lry Mafobe had said her girls were capable of get causing a major upset against the more illustrious Nigerian Flamingos. But she must have been upset when her team’s defence was breached before Blessing blasted home for Nigeria’s first goal in 36 minutes.
Before then, Nigeria goalkeeper Omilana had to be as agile as a leopard to keep out two sure-fire goal bound efforts in 32 and 35 minutes which sent a clear statement of Congolese intent.
But in truth, the flamboyant Nigerians too had peppered Congolese goal with efforts that rattled the home fans as Afolabi, Ajakaye and Alvine all came closer to breaking the deadlock in the first 25 minutes.
There had been much razzmatazz and build up to this match to suggest Nigeria’s 36th minute lead would not be the only goal of the encounter; but the first half ended 1:0 nonetheless.
With the Congolese coach still expecting her girls to rise to the occasion, it was Nigeria goalkeeper Omilana who rose highest to deny a definite goal bound effort from Masanga’s free-kick in 50 minutes – the Nigerian coaching contingents could be seen heaving a sigh of relief.
In fact, Omilana was having a career defining outing as she helped Nigeria repel wave after wave of Congolese onslaught with deft defying saves that provided reassurance that the Super Falcons should expect to replenish their stock of fabulous goalkeepers in seasons to come.
There were injury scares for Nigeria as Bello and Adeshina had to be ‘repaired’ by medics.
But what suffered the most brutal injury was the pride of the hostesses after Oluwatunmininu Adeshina stabbed home Nigeria’s second goal in 66 minutes with a goal that was swish and swanky.
Still reeling from that shock, more tragedy was to befall the Congolese as Ajakaye’s irreverent effort in 76 minutes made Nigeria’s lead more or less unassailable even with 14 minutes to go; Congo had been reduced to 10 girls in 70 minutes following Nwaji’s reckless tackle on Nigeria striker Dah Zossu.
The combat ebbed and flowed from that point with Nigeria even coming closer to increasing the lead but 3:0 it ended.
This was an emphatic and uplifting victory for the Damsels of Nigeria who brought nothing but distress for their hostesses. The second leg is scheduled for the 19th of March in Benin City. The overall winners have to attempt to mummify the Nefertitis of Egypt who lie in wait in the next round of qualifiers.
Thanks Deo for this analysis.
Well done girls.
Deo writing in the Spirit!
Analysis looking good in DEO
What a piece of analysis
Thanks for this
Even CS’s report is not as detail and an interesting read as this! Thanks for a good work guy.
It beats the imagination why CAF uses zonal grouping for AWCON/Olympic qualification, but they don’t for age grade teams. Otherwise, this could have been Nigetia vs Ghana again, while SA faces Lesotho and Uganda plays Djibouti. So funny.
Lovely analysis as always, Deo.
Fun fact: It’s interesting to note that female football has produced arguably the most successful footballer ever in the African continent. A Nigerian lady has achieved more than the likes of Etoo, Okocha, Kanu, Weah, Drogba, etc!
She has gone to 5 senior world cups. Has also played in 6 Afcons, winning the trophy a whopping 4 times.
She will likely be going to her 6th world cup next year!
The name: ONOME EBI.
So, next time the argument of who the greatest African player is comes around, you all know the answer!
Reading analysis from deo like as if I was at field of play. God bless your professionalsm spirit.
This Deo is just too good a writer. I couldn’t read the main CS piece, but when I started reading Deo’s I was wishing it wouldn’t end. Keep it up Deo.