U-17 WWC: Flamingos triumph over Dominican Republic, eye q’final clash with US

Nigeria’s women’s U-17 national team, the Flamingos, secured a dramatic 89th-minute victory against hosts Dominican Republic in their final group match at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The match, played in Santo Domingo early Wednesday, saw midfielder Shakirat Moshood score a stunning left-footed goal from 25 yards, her fourth of the tournament.

Earlier in the game, Moshood’s attempt was disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for offside. Despite this setback, the Flamingos continued to press, with team captain Taiwo Afolabi testing the Dominican goalkeeper.

The breakthrough finally came after half-time when Moshood’s powerful strike sealed the win.

This victory marked the Flamingos’ third consecutive win, propelling them to the top of Group A with nine points.

Coach Bankole Olowokoore’s team has been in exceptional form, having scored eight goals and conceded just one in their previous two matches, defeating New Zealand 4-1 and Ecuador 4-0.

Olowokoore had expressed confidence that the girls would make Nigeria proud at the tourney, saying, “I will not change our messages to Nigerians but to thank and appreciate them for their support. They should keep supporting us and having kept these vigils, it will not go in vain. Anytime they are watching us, we will give them joy, and we are going to make them proud. This is a promise that we made to them before we left Nigeria, and we are fulfilling the promise to them for them to be proud of us.”

According to the X handle of the FIFA U-17 WWC, the Nigerian game is the highest-attended football match for any Dominican Republic National Team, which saw a record of 13,535 spectators.

The Flamingos will face their United States counterpart in the quarterfinal bout of the tournament.