Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, are a couple of steps away from reaching the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco later this year, Footynaija.com reports.
Standing in their way are South Africa’s Bantwana, who travel to Ikenne for the second leg of their second qualification round this Saturday.
The Flamingos have the upper hand after securing a 3-1 win in the first leg in Pretoria, but the job is not done yet. South Africa will come with a point to prove, and Nigeria must be at their best to finish the job.
Flamingos in Control, But It Is Not Over
Nigeria put themselves in a strong position with a solid performance in Pretoria, where Shakirat Moshood scored in the 20th minute, followed by Harmony Chidiʼs penalty. The hosts also scored a penalty to reduce the deficit, keeping their hopes alive. But Chidi stole the show with a second goal in the 67th minute.
For the most part, while the Flamingos dominated the match, they have shown that they know Bantwana will not go down without a fight. A two-goal lead is a good cushion, but any slip-ups in the return leg could make things difficult.
Nigeria to Leverage Home Advantage
The Flamingos have been near unstoppable not only abroad, but also at home. They will look to prove that the Remo Stars Stadium is a fortress.
Their attacking play has been sharp throughout the qualifiers, with Chidi and Moshood leading the charge. In midfield, they dominate games and control possession. This has been another factor in their success.
Coach Bankole Olowookere will likely stick to an attacking setup, knowing that an early goal could kill off any hopes South Africa have of a comeback.
South Africa’s Challenge
Coach Ntombifuthi Khumalo has remained hopeful, pointing out that her team showed resilience in the first half of the first leg. This also comes from the fact that an early goal could change the entire outlook of the game.
However, overturning a two-goal deficit away from home will be a tough one. They will need to take their chances better than they did, particularly in the first half of the first leg, where they struggled to break down Nigeria’s defence in open play.
Deciding Factors
1. Nigeria needs to stay focused and play with the same intensity as they did in the first leg. They have the advantage, but complacency could be their biggest enemy.
2. If Bantwana score first, it could put pressure on the Flamingos and change the momentum of the game. Nigeria must be defensively solid from the start.
3. South Africa’s only goal in the first leg came from a penalty. Nigeria must avoid unnecessary fouls and stay disciplined at the back.
The Flamingos have all the tools to advance to the third and final round, but they must approach this game with the right mindset. With a strong record at home and a two-goal advantage, there is no doubt that they are in control. South Africa will fight, but Nigeria have the quality to see this through.
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