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Tag: Flamingos

  • Dominican Republic 2024: Olowookere says Flamingos set for another goal feast

    Dominican Republic 2024: Olowookere says Flamingos set for another goal feast

    Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has disclosed that his Nigeria U17 girls, Flamingos are determined to have another goal feast when they host their counterparts from the Central African Republic at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Friday, 9th February 2024.

     

    “We will not be taking any chances. It is a FIFA World Cup qualifier and even though we won the first leg by a wide margin, there is the need to take the return leg as serious and fire on all cylinders. We will not be taking our feet off the pedal,” said Olowookere, who also led the team to win the bronze medals at the last edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India.

     

    Both teams clashed in Douala, Cameroon last Sunday in the second round, first leg of the African qualification series for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, with the Flamingos running away with a 6-0 win. Douala has been ‘home ground’ for national football teams of Central African Republic for some years now as there is no stadium in that country approved for international matches.

     

    Harmony Chidi and Shakirat Moshood got a brace each, with Prisca Nwachukwu and Edidiong Etim also on the scoresheet at the Stade de la Reunification.

     

    On Friday, both teams will clash in the return leg, with the Confederation of African Football having appointed Moroccan official Zakia El Grini as the referee, while her compatriots Ihsane Nouajli, Karima Khadiri and Sabah Sadir will serve as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.

     

    Naa Odofoley Nortey from Ghana will be in the role of commissioner. The match will kick off at 4pm.  

  • Flamingos to be honoured as Leadership’s Sportsperson of the Year

    Flamingos to be honoured as Leadership’s Sportsperson of the Year

    World Cup bronze medallists, Flamingos have been named the Sportsperson of the Year 2022 by Leadership Newspapers Group Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading media companies.

    The honour will be bestowed on Nigeria’s U17 girls at the 2022 Leadership Annual Conference and Awards scheduled for the Abuja International Conference Centre on Tuesday, 31st January 2023.

    In its notice of the Flamingos’ selection after a diligent process by the Awards’ Nomination and Selection Committee, the newspaper company wrote: “Amid several nominees with excellent credentials, you have been selected for this prestigious award for winning Nigeria’s first-ever medal at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, the second African team to achieve the feat after Ghana in 2012…the selection board found the team most qualified as the LEADERSHIP Sportsperson of the Year 2022.”

    It can be recalled that the Flamingos arrived in India for last year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup having chalked up 15 goals in six African qualification matches, and having played in all previous editions of the tournament bar the 2018 finals in Uruguay.

    In India, the Flamingos lost narrowly 1-2 to Germany in their opening match, before hammering New Zealand 4-0 and edging Chile 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals. In the quarter-finals, they defeated USA 4-3 on penalties after both teams ended regulation and extra time 1-1.

    In the semi finals, Colombia proved too tough on penalties after a 0-0 draw following regulation and extra time, and in the third-place match, the Nigerian girls outclassed Germany 3-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw. Incidentally, Germany were Ghana’s victims when Nigeria’s fierce West African rivals won Africa’s first medal (bronze) in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan in 2012.

  • Flamingos arrive, meet with sports minister in Abuja

    Flamingos arrive, meet with sports minister in Abuja

    In order to make world champions of World Cup bronze medallists, Flamingos given their innate talent and skills and demonstrated ability, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will provide maximum support and encouragement to the Nigeria Football Federation as the players graduate from one level to another.

    This pledge was contained in the remarks of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Sunday Dare as he hosted the bronze medallists of the recently-concluded 7th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, Flamingos of Nigeria at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Tuesday.

    “We commend you for the way you performed without fear and held up the flag to win a historic bronze for our country in this competition. I praise the NFF for the support to the team right from their screening through the qualifiers and to the arrangements for final camping in Turkey and the final tournament in India. We must also commend the coaching crew for their steadfastness in imparting the right knowledge to the players.

    “I will be happy to see these players graduate from this level to the U20 and then to the senior team, because they have the skills and talent, and demonstrated ability to do very well. The Ministry will give NFF the right support to achieve that. They have served well as good ambassadors of our country on and off the pitch.”

    Earlier, President of the NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau had introduced the team to the Minister, recalling the team’s exploits during the qualifying campaign and at the final competition in India, describing the players as “young, energetic, vibrant, positive and promising.”

    The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, hailed the team for “performing so wonderfully well” to make Nigeria proud, and observed that its success was attributable to synergy and telepathy, which should be credited to the coaching crew.

    Captain of the team, Alvine Dah-Zossu expressed appreciation to the Ministry and the NFF, and thanked Nigerians from all walks of life who prayed for and wished the team well in India.

    Also at the occasion were Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu (NFF 1st Vice President); Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (General Secretary); Mr. Timothy Henman (NFF Board Member); Dr. Simon Ebhojiaye (Director, FEADS); Engineer Olatunji Okedairo (Director, Facilities); Alhaji Musa Jafaar (Director, Human Resources); Mr. Segun Oke (Director of Procurement); Chairmen of the Football Associations of Gombe and Kwara States and; Ms Mary Onyali (SA to the Hon. Minister).

    Earlier, on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the players and their officials were received by Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu (NFF 1st Vice President), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (General Secretary); Ademola Olajire (Director of Communications); Barnabas Joro (Head of Protocol); Dayo Enebi Achor (Head of International); Toyin Ibitoye (Special Assistant to the Hon. Minister) and; Emmanuel Ayanbunmi (Chief Protocol Officer).

    Chief Anyansi-Agwu gave kudos to the team for their excellent conduct on and off the field of play in India and assured them that the Government and people of Nigeria, as well as the NFF, are proud of their accomplishments.

    A dummy cheque of the sum of N3million promised the team by Super Eagles’ captain Ahmed Musa was presented to the players and officials at the airport. Chairman of the NFF Task Force on Youth Competitions, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi promised the team the sum of $10,000.

    The Presidency will host the team at a later date.

  • India 2022: Flamingos expected back in Nigeria today

    India 2022: Flamingos expected back in Nigeria today

    The Bronze medal-winning Flamingos of Nigeria are expected back in the country today from India.

    The Nigerian U-17 girls defeated Germany 3-2 on Penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw in Mumbai on Sunday.

    The Germans had in the first game of  Group B defeated the Nigerians 2-1 but couldn’t replicate such feat when they met again in the 3rd place game.

    The Europeans, who lost by a 90th  minute goal to Cup holders Spain in Wednesday’s second semi-final, started the brighter side and had the ball in the net through Marie Steiner in the 5th minute off a cross from Laura Gloning. But the Video Assistant Referee ruled if offside.

    Nigeria took the lead in the 21st minute through power forward Opeyemi Ajakaye, after she got the better of Eve Boettcher from a flowing move.

    The Flamingos continued the second half from where they left off in the first period and were more fortunate this time, as Aminat Omowunmi Bello headed powerfully into the net from defender Miracle Usani’s corner kick in the 48th minute.

    It was soon 3-0, as Edidiong Etim, only four minutes on the pitch in place of Okenwa, converted to put daylight between both teams.

    Or so it seemed. Germany, staring at annihilation, fought back gamely and reduced the scoreline in the 73rd  minute when Veit Jella pulled one back. Paulina Platiner made it 3-2 with five minutes to go and on the dot of 90 minutes, Loreen Bender tied the scoreline to compel a third penalty shootout for the Flamingos in the knockout phase of the tournament.

  • FIFA U-17 World Cup: Flamingos’ road to bronze in India

    FIFA U-17 World Cup: Flamingos’ road to bronze in India

    The Flamingos went through the qualifying series in Africa before making it to India alongside Africa’s other representative Tanzania

    Coach Bankole Olowookere’s girls had pounded Democratic Republic of Congo 3-0 in Kinshasa and 5-0 in Benin City, and prevailed over Egypt 4-0 in Abuja and 2-0 in Cairo. In their final qualification fixture, they pipped Ethiopia 1-0 in Addis Ababa and the second leg in Abuja ended scoreless.

    After a 10-day final camping programme in the Turkish city of Kocaeli, Olowookere said: “We will be facing a tough task out there in India but I believe that if we play as a team, we can get something out of the World Cup. I have a group of girls who are ambitious and they fear no team. This could stand us in good stead in India.”

    After going one goal up against Germany in Goa on the first day of the tournament, the Flamingos capitulated 2-1, but refused to bow their heads. They spanked New Zealand 4-0 with some scintillating displays also in Goa and edged Chile 2-1 in Bhubaneswar to reach the knockout stage.

    Against the USA in the quarter-finals in Navi Mumbai, team spirit and team work were important to keep the scoreline 1-1 and take the session to penalties. Substitute goalkeeper Linda Jiwuaku, brought in for the shootout, saved one of the kicks and an American player fluffed her kick to give Nigeria victory.

    Back in Goa, another penalty shootout was needed against Colombia in the semi-finals. With the Flamingos ahead and a kick from glory, defender Omamuzo Edafe, who scored the penalty kick during play and the winner in the shootout against USA, saw her kick crash against the upright. Nigeria lost in sudden death when defender Comfort Folorunsho lost her kick.

    The third-place match also had to be settled via penalty shootout, after the Flamingos conceded three goals in the last 18 minutes to tie the game 3-3. Victory in the shootout, despite defender Tumininu Adeshina’s miss, earned Nigeria a historic third-place at the finals after being nowhere near the last tournament in Uruguay.

    “We give God the glory. It was a roller-coaster but we learnt a lot of lessons and it will help the players as they graduate to other levels of the National Team. We strove hard to get our hands on the trophy but we will take the bronze medals for now and return home to go and prepare hard for the next edition,” Coach Olowookere said.

  • India 2022: Super Eagles’ captain, Ahmed Musa doles out 3million to Flamingos

    India 2022: Super Eagles’ captain, Ahmed Musa doles out 3million to Flamingos

    Super Eagles captain and Sivasspor of Turkey forward, Ahmed Musa has given   Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team the Flamingos N3m for coming out tops against Germany in the bronze medal encounter at the just concluded U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.

    Nigeria defeated Germany 3-2 via penalties in the third-place match after full-time score ended 3-3 in Mumbai on Sunday.

    An elated  Musa took to his verified Twitter page to make the announcement.

    His tweet reads “Three million waiting for Flamingos in Abuja. Congratulations,” Musa tweeted, while celebrating Flamingos’ historic achievement.

    Sunday’s victory for Nigeria made them the second African side to have achieved the feat. Ghana clinched the bronze medal at the 2012 edition of the tournament.

    Flamingos scored first and were up 3-0 before the Germans staged a dramatic comeback late on to tie the loser’s final 3-3.

    Blessing Sunday, Etim and Player-of-The-Match Ajakaye all scored from the spot for Flamingos but defender Tumininu Adeshina’s miss did not matter as Pauliner Bartz fluffed the crucial kick for Germany.

  • Video: How Flamingos, German U-17 girls danced to Kizz Daniel’s song after the match

    Video: How Flamingos, German U-17 girls danced to Kizz Daniel’s song after the match

    The German U-17 girls put the loss to Nigeria behind them as they alongside the Nigerian girls danced so happily to a Nigerian song in the dressing room.

    The players exchanged kits while some exchanged contacts and others wore their dancing shoes as shown in the video.

    The video showed the Germans and the Nigerian girls vibing and shaking their bum to Kizz Daniel’s new track Cough.

    Nigeria’s U17 girls won their first-ever FIFA World Cup bronze medals on Sunday after a 3-2 penalty shootout win over Germany following a dramatic 3-3 draw in Mumbai.

    Both teams started the competition playing against each other, with the Germans coming back from a goal down to win 2-1 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa.

    The Europeans, who lost by a 90th-minuteth-minuteth minute goal to Cup holders Spain in Wednesday’s second semi-final, started the brighter side and had the ball in the net through Marie Steiner in the 5th minute off a cross from Laura Cloning. But the Video Assistant Referee ruled it offside.

    Nigeria took the lead in the 21st minute through power forward Opeyemi Ajakaye after she got the better of Eve Boettcher from a flowing move.

    Germany, staring at annihilation, fought back gamely and reduced the scoreline in the 73rd minute when Veit Jella pulled one back. Five minutes later, Ajakaye had an opportunity to make it 4-1 but faltered.

    Paulina Plattner made it 3-2 with five minutes to go and on the dot of 90 minutes, Loreen Bender tied the scoreline to compel a third penalty shootout for the Flamingos in the knockout phase of the tournament.

    Substitutes Blessing Sunday and Edidiong Etim, and Player-of-the-Match Opeyemi Ajakaye scored from the spot for Nigeria. Defender Tumininu Adeshina missed but it did not matter as Pauline Bartz missed a crucial kick for Germany.

    See video below:

     

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  • U17 Women’s World Cup: Nigeria’s Flamingos defeat Germany to win bronze after dramatic 3:3 draw

    U17 Women’s World Cup: Nigeria’s Flamingos defeat Germany to win bronze after dramatic 3:3 draw

    Nigeria won their first-ever FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup bronze medals on Sunday in Mumbai after a 3-2 penalty kicks shootout win over Germany.

    Both teams had started the competition against each other, with the Germans coming back from a goal down to win 2-1 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa.

    But, this time around, in spite of coming back from three goals down, they failed to clinch a winning goal and could not succeed at the shooting range.

    The Europeans, who lost through a late goal to Cup-holders Spain in Wednesday’s second semi-final, started the brighter side in this third-place match.

    They had the ball in the net through Marie Steiner in the fifth minute off a cross from Laura Gloning, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ruled if offside.

    Nigeria however took the lead in the 21st minute through Opeyemi Ajakaye, after she got the better of Eve Boettcher from a flowing move.

    Goalkeeper Faith Omilana saved from Gloning five minutes later, while Nigeria should have been 2-0 up in time-added-on in the first half after Chidera Okenwa missed a one-on-one with Boettcher.

    The Flamingos continued the second half from where they left off in the first period and were more fortunate this time.

    Aminat Bello headed powerfully into the net from defender Miracle Usani’s corner kick in the 48thminute, while Edidiong Etim extended their lead only four minutes after replacing Okenwa.

    But Germany fought back gamely and reduced the scoreline in the 73rd minute when Veit Jella pulled one back.

    Five minutes later, Ajakaye had an opportunity to make it 4-1 but faltered.

    Paulina Platiner made it 3-2 with five minutes to go and on the dot of 90 minutes, Loreen Bender tied the scoreline to compel a third penalty kicks shootout for the Flamingos.

    Substitutes Blessing Sunday and Etim, and Player-of-the-Match Ajakaye scored from the spot for Nigeria, while defender Tumininu Adeshina missed.

    But it did not matter as Pauliner Bartz missed a crucial kick for Germany.

    Flamingos’ coach Bankole Olowookere said afterwards: “I am a very happy man that we did not leave India empty-handed.

    “It has been a great tournament with a lot of lessons learnt. We give God the glory.”

  • India 2022: Flamingos to play Germany again in third place match

    India 2022: Flamingos to play Germany again in third place match

    The Nigeria u17 women’s national team booked a date with Germany their opening game opponent in the third place encounter at the ongoing FIFA U-17 tournament in India.

    The Flamingos fell to  Colombia on Wednesday afternoon but will meet their old nemesis again in the third-place match

    Both Nigeria and Germany missed out on a place in the final after losing their semifinal matchups on Wednesday afternoon.

    Recall that the Flamingos were edged out by Colombia 6-5 on penalties after both teams had played out a 0-0 draw in normal time. Germany, on the other hand, was defeated 1-0 by defending World Cup champions Spain also on Wednesday.

    Germany and Nigeria met earlier in the tournament in the opening match of Group B. The Nigerians drew the first blood in that encounter, but the Europeans bounced back to claim a 2-1 victory.

    After the opening day loss to Germany,the Nigerian ladies went ahead to defeat New Zealand 4-0 and Chile 2-1 to set up a Quarter-Final clash with United States.

    They defeated United State 5-4 on Penalties to progress to the Semi-final of the competition.

    However, the Flamingos succumced to the Colombian girls on 6-5 on Penalty shoot out.

  • No team can beat us – Flamingos defender, Miracle Usani boasts

    No team can beat us – Flamingos defender, Miracle Usani boasts

    Flamingos of Nigeria defender Miracle Usani, has boasted that no team can defeat Nigeria at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.

    Usani has assured Flamingos fans that the team can overcome any side at the tournament after their penalty shoot-out victory over the United States on Friday.

    Nigeria beat tournament favourites USA 4-3 on penalties after full-time ended 1-1 with Usani converting one of the Flamingos’ spot kicks, but not without some drama.

    Usani fell on the pitch in tears after she saw her penalty saved by Valentina Amaral, but she got a second chance after VAR adjudged Amaral to have stepped off her line before making the save, which meant Usani had to a second chance to retake the penalty.

    Much to her relief and that of millions of Nigerians back home, Usani converted from the spot as Nigeria advanced to the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since inception in 2008.

    The Nigeria team will face South American side Colombia on Wednesday by 12pm in Goa.