Morocco 2025: Flamingos Soar Past Bantwana 2-0 in Epic Second Leg Clash
Nigeria’s The Flamingos achieved a confident 5-1 aggregate triumph over South Africa’s Bantwana, following up with a 2-0 win in the second leg of their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier match held in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday.
In the first leg, where she was the two-goal hero, Harmony Chidi calmly directed the ball into the net from a narrow angle in the 37th minute, making things even more difficult for the visiting team that had previously lost their home match 1-3.
Shakirat Moshood, who scored a goal in the first leg, was the provider from a well-taken free kick on the right. She turned provider again 11 minutes into the second half, when she found Aishat Animashaun, who lifted the ball over and above Samekelise Mthembu into the net for Nigeria’s second.
In the match, Zoe October, Thoriso Mphelo, Khmezi Khoza, and team captain Katleho Malebana stood out for Bantwana. Despite their efforts, they were unable to breach the sturdy defense formed by Nigeria’s Hannah Ibrahim, Jumai Adebayo, Philomena Isaiah, and Favour Iheagwam.
The head coach of Nigeria’s under-17 women's national team, Bankole Olowookere, previously stressed the significance of staying focused regardless of their lead from the first leg.
"We fully understand that nothing is final until everything is concluded. It would be imprudent to think differently. Indeed, we secured a 3-1 victory in South Africa, yet the competition remains open. This is how we approach the situation," Olowookere stated prior to the game.
The careful strategy employed by the Nigerian coach proved successful as his players put up a well-organized display to achieve their objective in front of their home crowd.
The South African coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo, showed positivity ahead of the game even though they were facing difficult circumstances.
The Flamingos advanced to the final stage of the qualification tournament thanks to their victory, setting up a showdown with the team that emerges as the champion from the match between Botswana and Algeria scheduled for next month. Botswana holds a lead of 2-1 following the initial clash.
The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup scheduled for Morocco in 2025 will mark the eighth installment of this every-two-years global youth soccer championship.
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