Nigeria’s Flamingos continued their dominant run in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, securing a commanding 4-0 victory over Ecuador to remain at the top of Group A. The win marked Nigeria’s second consecutive triumph in the tournament, further solidifying their position as strong contenders for the title.
The match saw Nigeria take control early, asserting their dominance with a confident display of skill and pace.
The breakthrough came when Shakirat Moshood opened the scoring from the penalty spot after an Ecuadorian defender committed a foul in the box.
Moshood’s calm and clinical finish put the Flamingos in the driver’s seat, giving them a 1-0 lead before halftime.
The second half was a showcase of Nigeria’s attacking prowess.
Harmony Chidi doubled the lead with a stunning right-footed strike, marking her first goal of the tournament.
Chidi’s powerful shot left the Ecuadorian goalkeeper with no chance, and it was a moment of relief and celebration for the young striker.
Reflecting on her first World Cup goal, Chidi expressed her joy, saying, “I’m very happy. I don’t know how to express this.
It’s joy for me right now because in the last game, when the goal didn’t come, my coach calmed me down.
He believes in me so much that I can do it, even when it’s not coming, so I appreciate him for that and bless God for it.”
Nigeria’s relentless pressure paid off again when a goalkeeping error from Ecuador allowed Peace Effiong to capitalize, easily slotting the ball into an open net to extend the Flamingos’ lead to 3-0.
The mistake proved costly for Ecuador, and Nigeria showed no signs of slowing down as they continued to control the game.
In stoppage time, Moshood struck again, sealing her brace and putting the final touch on a dominant performance for the Flamingos.
Her second goal of the match wrapped up the 4-0 victory, sending a strong message to the rest of the competition about Nigeria’s ambitions in the tournament.
With this win, Nigeria remains unbeaten and firmly at the top of Group A, having collected six points from their two matches.
Their performance against Ecuador showcased their tactical discipline, technical ability, and clinical finishing, making them one of the teams to watch as the tournament progresses.
As the Flamingos look ahead to their next match, confidence is high within the squad, and the players are determined to build on their momentum as they aim for a deep run in the World Cup.
