25th March, 2012
Nigeria’s Flamingoes have booked their place in the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup slated for Azerbaijan.
Nigeria’s ticket came off a well-rounded victory from the nation’s campaigners against their Zambian counterparts, Junior She-Polopolo whom they defeated 5-0 in the final fixture of the qualifiers played at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta in Ogun State last weekend
The coach Peter Dedevbo-tutored side completed the routing of the Southern Africans on 7-1 aggregate, after the first leg ended 2-1 in favour of the Nigerians in Lusaka.
The goal feast started by free scoring goal queen, Patience Okaeme followed by Halimatu Ayinde’s second, which closed the first half.
On resumption of play, the rush for goals continued in a virtually one-sided game. Chidinma Edeji increased the goals to three and later grabbed the fourth through a well taken penalty after an on-rushing Zambian player handled the ball in the penalty box.
Mabel Effiom Michael scored the fifth goal to round off the goal harvest for Nigeria.
Coach Dedevbo expressed delight at his players’ performance, while promising a greater outing in the World Cup.
“The scoreline is okay and that showed the better of both sides. We’re going to the World Cup to do Nigeria and Africa proud,” he told SuperSport.com.
However, Coach Beauty Mwamba of Zambia, while she praised her players for a good game, complained that the Nigerian players are women.
“I am proud of my girls, they’ve done their part, but I’m not disappointed. We presented young girls unlike the Nigerian players who are clearly older,” she said.
Ghana joined Nigeria in the Azerbaijan’s party remaining one country to complete the Africa’s trio.