Cameroon, Ivory Coast Out as Nigeria meets North Korea Next
By Eniola Olatunji
The Flamingoes of Nigeria on Saturday night in Morocco strolled into the U17 female world cup round of 16 games with a resounding 4-0 victory over debutantes Samoa Republic girls team in group D.
It was an excellent night that shut the mouths of critics already planning to wait for the Nigeria girls at the Abuja Airport on Monday but Joseph Queen supplied a brace in the 13th minute through Shakirat Moshood connect and in the 34th minute via a lone strike.
The Flamingoes who were determined to beat their opponent silly to erase the Canadian record of beating Samoa 6-0 got the 2nd goal from rampaging Shaki (short for Shakirat) who scored in the 28th minute of play only for Azeezat Oduntan to make it 4-0 getting a chip from Chisom Nwachukwu in the 67th minute.
That leaves group D having Canada as leaders with maximum 9 points; France is 2nd with 6 points; Nigeria is 3rd with 3 points scoring 5 goals and conceding 5 with no deficit while Samoa goes home with no point scored.
Samoa is a tiny country from the Oceanic football Confederation (OFC) that is a debutante to world U17 women’s world cup. The country emerged as part of the FIFA project to develop football globally and had on 17th June 2024 whipped Papua Guinea U17 girls 11-0 in the build up to this tournament. She has never met Nigeria U17 girls before.
Nigeria had been to the tournament finals 7 times getting the Bronze with a 3-2 win over Germany on penalties after 3-3 at full time at India 2022. She lost in the semifinal to Colombia5-6 on penalties after a goalless full time. Nigeria got to the quarters three times at Azerbaijan 2012; Costa Rica 2014 and Dominican Republic 2024.
Nigeria lost woefully 1-4 to Canada while France beat Samoa 4-2 in the group opening matches. In the 2nd group games Nigeria lost to France by a lone goal while Samoa bowed to Canada 0-6.
Cameroon is out of contention having lost to Mexico by a lone goal in the last group games making North Korea to top group B with 9 points; Mexico is 2nd with 6 points and Netherland is 3rd with 3 points having scored 4 goals and conceded 5 with a -5 deficit.
Hosts Morocco defeated Costa Rica 3-1 in group A last group games to stay at the waiting room for Best Losers with 3 points scoring 4 goals and conceding 7 with a deficit of -3. Italy topped that group with 9 points; Brazil is 2nd with 4 points while Costa Rica is out with only one point scored. Netherlands bagged a red card in the game against North Korea.
Ivory Coast is out from group E after losing last group game 0-3 to powerful Spain with two red cards in the match. Spain tops the group with 9 points; Colombia is 2nd with 6 points while South Korea is equally out with one point scored.
In group C, Norway is out having lost last group match 0-5 to USA. USA tops the group with maximum 9 points; China is 2nd with 6 points while Ecuador also sits at the waiting room with 3 points scoring 2 goals and conceding 7 with a deficit of -5 while Norway simply could neither get a draw nor win a match.
Zambia is scheduled to face New Zealand in a must win encounter at 8pm later tonight. Japan and Paraguay who are meeting themselves are in a battle of who wins group F as both countries have 6 points each.
Already, the setting for the round of 16 games are getting clear as Bra vs Chi will be on Tuesday in Sale; Winner group D will meet 3BF and the winners will square up in the quarters; NKor vs 3AD is on Tuesday in Sale while WGF will meet Col on Wednesday and the winners will square up in the 2nd quarters.
Spain vs RUD is on Wednesday in Sale while USA meets 3AB on Tuesday also in Sale while the winners will play the quarters. Mex vs RUF will be played on Wednesday also at Sale while Ita vs 3CD will be the only match to be played in Rabat on Tuesday. All other matches in the quarters to the grand finale will be played in Rabat.
The 9th world U17 female football Tournament holding in Morocco is to end on 8th November 2025.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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