THE Flamingos have advanced to the next stage of the qualifiers for the India 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with an 8-0 aggregate thrashing of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Nigerian girls won the second leg 5-0 in Benin City on Saturday to complete the victory after a 3-0 win in the away leg two weeks earlier.
Opeyemi Ajakaiye scored twice, with Tumininu Adeshina, Anastasia Atume and Taiwo Afolabi adding one each in the rout.
Ajakaiye, who also scored in the Flamingos’ 3-0 win in the first leg in Kinshasa, opened the floodgates of goals in the fourth minute and made it 2-0 ten minutes later for the dominant Flamingos.
Adeshina made it 3-0 in the 19th minute, the defender flicking the ball over the Congo goalkeeper from a free-kick.
Dorcas Msimba-Dilu came close to reducing the deficit for the visitors from 20 yards but the first half ended 3-0 as the Flamingos preserved their clean sheet.
In the second half, Ajakaiye and Blessing Emmanuel wasted good opportunities before substitute Atume scored Nigeria’s fourth goal in the 58th minute. Impressive midfielder Afolabi wrapped up the scoring with a smart finish to send the Congolese packing.
Nigeria will now clash with Egypt in the third round of the qualifiers next month, with the final round of the qualifiers scheduled for May.
For their efforts, the Flamingos were rewarded with N1 million by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu.
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