2024 U-17 WWCQ: Nigeria’s Flamingos thrash Burkina Faso to reach final round

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, secured a dominant 6-0 victory over Burkina Faso, advancing to the fourth and final qualifying round for the 2024 FIFA U17 World Cup in the Dominican Republic.

This victory resulted in a 7-1 aggregate win for the Flamingos.

The match, held at the National Stadium in Abuja, saw an outstanding performance from Harmony Chidi, who scored a hat-trick. Peace Effiong also played a crucial role, netting two goals to help seal the comprehensive win.

The two teams had previously drawn 1-1 at the Stade 26 Mars in Bamako, Mali. However, in Abuja, the Flamingos, coached by Bankole Olowookere, were in commanding form. Chidi opened the scoring in the 11th minute, with Effiong adding a second goal just past the half-hour mark, giving Nigeria a comfortable lead at halftime.

In the second half, Chidi scored her second goal of the match, followed by a brilliant effort from Ramota Kareem. Chidi completed her hat-trick four minutes from time, and Effiong added her second goal of the encounter, concluding the 6-0 rout.

This win equals Nigeria’s best result in the qualifiers since their 11-0 victory over Azerbaijan at the 2012 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup. With this triumph, Nigeria advances to the final qualifying round of the 2024 Women’s World Cup, where they will face either Senegal or Liberia.

The Flamingos’ impressive performance continues their legacy of success, having won a bronze medal at the 2022 U17 Women’s World Cup in India after defeating Germany in the third-place match.