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Tag: Flamingos

  • India 2022: Gusau to lead support for Flamingos against Colombia on Wednesday

    India 2022: Gusau to lead support for Flamingos against Colombia on Wednesday

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau will be at the forefront of the support group when the country’s U17 girls, Flamingos tackle Colombia in the semi-finals of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Goa on Wednesday.

    The NFF boss, who has spoken with the players and officials severally during their earlier games in the tournament, will physically witness the semi-final showdown at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. It is the first semi-final, starting at 4pm (12noon Nigeria time) with the second semi-final between Germany and Spain to kick off three-and-half hours later.

    Victory over Colombia – who defeated the only other African team to make the knockout stage, Tanzania 3-0 in the last eight – will shoot the Flamingos into Sunday’s final.

    The Flamingos’ odyssey in India has had an uncanny resemblance to that of the Nigeria U20 girls, Falconets in Germany 12 years ago, at least from the quarter-final stage.

    In 2010, in what was the first international tournament for any Nigeria team under the presidency of Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the Falconets had beaten the United States 4-2 in a penalty shootout in a FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup quarter-final after both teams tied 1-1 in regulation time in Augsburg.

    Four days later, a 2nd minute goal by Ebere Orji at the Bielefelder Alm in the city of Bielefeld condemned Colombia to defeat in the semi final, and the Falconets squared up to Germany in the final.

    The Flamingos are the first Nigeria team to be involved in a tournament during the presidency of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau. They have beaten the United States in a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw in a World Cup quarter-final, and now await Colombia in the semi-finals.

    It is also remarkable that Germany, Nigeria’s opponents in the final in Germany 12 years ago, are also in the semi-finals in India. They play Spain in the second semi-final on Wednesday.

  • FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup: Colombia to face Nigeria’s Flamingos

    FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup: Colombia to face Nigeria’s Flamingos

    Colombia on Saturday booked a semi-finals place against Nigeria’s Flamingos at the ongoing FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in India.

    Colombia breezed past Tanzania 3-0 in the quarter-finals at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margoa.

    The result means the South Americans will now face the Flamingos in the first semi-final fixture at the same stadium on Wednesday.

    Nigeria reached the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time on Friday when the Flamingos beat the U.S. in the quarter-finals.

    The Flamingos kept their nerves to defeat the U.S. 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in a pulsating quarter-final match in Navi Mumbai.

    Colombia on their part, have already had their best run in the tournament, making it past the group stage.

    With the win against Tanzania, their dream redemption in the tournament —- following four successive group stage exits, including that of 2018 —- continues.

    They started their quarter-finals match pressing very high and got the breakthrough within the first three minutes.

    Colombia’s counter-attack was finished with a goal by captain Linda Caicedo, who beat Zulfa Makau with ease.

    In spite of Tanzania playing a 4-1-4-1 shape, it could not stop the opposition from inflicting further blows when the second goal came 13 minutes later.

    Cristina Motta’s cross from the left was headed into the goal by Yesica Munoz.

    The match got bad to worse for the Serengeti girls when Zainabu Ally’s foul on Juana Ortegon saw her being sent off, following a VAR check by referee Ivana Martincic.

    Colombia piled on misery on Tanzania with a penalty kick in the 32nd minute.

    Though Bakari Shime (Tanzania’s head coach) changed the goalkeeper —- bringing on Husna Mtunda for Makau —- Gabriela Rodriguez scored with ease to continue building on the lead.

    In the second half, Tanzania looked defensively stronger in spite of having a player less.

    In the 80th minute, Colombia came close to scoring their fourth when Orianna Quintero beat Mtunda, but Tanzania’s captain Noela Luhala made a key clearance in the final moment.

    Luhala saw her relief turning into agony minutes later, when her foul on Ana Guzman was penalised with the second red card of the match.

    The incident reduced a hapless Tanzania to just nine players.

  • India 2022: Flamingos break Quarter-final jinx, beat United States

    India 2022: Flamingos break Quarter-final jinx, beat United States

    Nigeria’s Flamingos have finally broken the quarter-final jinx at the FIFA U-17 Female WorldCup after beating the United States 4-3 penalties in Mumbai.

    It was a very tough encounter for coach Bankole Olowookere and his wards, as the American girls gave the Flamingos a serious challenge in this match.

    Nigeria opened scoring in the first half of the encounter with Omamuzo Edafe, scoring from the penalty spot, the American teenagers equalized few minutes through Amalia Villarreal after to level things up at 1-1.

    Both sides failed to add to the tally as it ended 1-1 in full time.

    However there is no extra time at the U-17 level as the match went straight into penalty shoot-out.

    The Americans missed their first penalty but scored three more in the shoot out, the Nigerian ladies scored four in the shoot -out to edge out from the tournament.

    Nigeria await the winner of the encounter between Colombia and  Tanzania in the tournament.

     

     

  • India 2022: Flamingos target Q-Final ticket against USA in Mumbai

    India 2022: Flamingos target Q-Final ticket against USA in Mumbai

    Nigeria’s U17 girls say they foresee an interesting encounter when they tackle United States of America in Navi Mumbai in one of the quarter finals matches of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.

    The Flamingos lost narrowly, 1-2, to another powerhouse of women’s football, Germany in their first match of the competition but have since overcome stage-fright and were worthy 4-0 and 2-1 winners over New Zealand and Chile respectively.

    Navi Mumbai, a planned ultra-modern city that is only 25 kilometres from the Indian capital city of Mumbai, is the venue for this titanic clash set for the Dr. DY Patil Stadium as from 12 noon Nigeria time on Friday.

    Nigeria, who would be aiming to break their quarterfinal jinx at this competition, are up against USA for the first time at this level and this encounter is an opportunity for the West Africans to make history.

    Having failed to reach the semi-finals in six previous editions, the Nigerians set out to achieve the impossible, ending the country’s 14-year wait for a last-four berth on their fourth quarterfinal appearance.

    The Americans will hope to reach the semis for the first time since 2008 when they finished as runners-up at the inaugural edition in New Zealand.

    Impossible is nothing, really. On 25th July 2010, in Augsburg, Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets came from behind to defeat USA on penalties in one of the quarter-final matches of the 2010 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Germany. The match ended 1-1 and the Falconets went on to win 4-2 after a penalty shootout.

  • India 2022: Flamingos beat Chile 2-1 to qualify for quarter-finals

    India 2022: Flamingos beat Chile 2-1 to qualify for quarter-finals

    Nigeria reached the quarter finals of the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in India after the Flamingos scooped all three points from Chile in a 2-1 win in Bhubaneswar.

    Blessing Emmanuel’s goal in the 4th minute of the game and Bisola Mosaku’s strike off a free-kick by dead-ball artist Miracle Usani with eight minutes left was enough to see Nigeria through at the Kalinga Stadium, despite a late penalty converted by Roverner Tali.

    The win earned the Flamingoes a place in the quarter finals on Friday, with either USA or Brazil as opponents.

    As was the case against New Zealand on Friday, the Flamingos created a slew of opportunities that were not converted, but Head Coach Bankole Olowookere assured the team will get even better as the tournament progresses.

    “We missed a number of chances again, but I like the spirit of the team and we will get better as we go on in the competition. I am happy we made it into the last eight, and that we sustained our winning mentality despite the fact that we only needed a draw to sail through.”

    Germany’s 3-1 win over New Zealand in the other match of Group B meant the Germans finished with the maximum nine points in the group phase, having scored a total of 11 goals conceding only two.

    Nigeria finished with six points, and a plus six goals advantage after scoring seven goals and conceding only two.

  • India 2021: Gusau charges Flamingos to clinch quarter-final ticket against Chile

    India 2021: Gusau charges Flamingos to clinch quarter-final ticket against Chile

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau is confident that Nigeria’s U17 Girls, Flamingos will reach the quarter-finals of the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India on Monday.

    The Flamingos are up against South American side, Chile inside the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar as from noon Nigeria time on Monday (4pm in India). Both teams have three points each but Africa’s best team boasts superior goals tally and will qualify if the game ends in a stalemate.

    “Even though we need a draw to qualify, I have told the technical crew and the players to work hard for a win in order to sustain their winning mentality. That element is crucial for a team at this point in the tournament. Winning mentality ensures that you want to go for it no matter the situation or condition.

    “They did well to get the goals against New Zealand but we need these three points as well so that the message can go out to our quarter-finals opponents that we mean serious business.”

    The 4-0 win over New Zealand took the Flamingos to three points and plus three goals advantage, while their 6-0 thumping by group leaders Germany meant the Chileans remained on three points and with minus four goals.

    Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has assured that his girls will not take their feet off the pedal against the South Americans.

    “We are ready for another three points. We had a good win over New Zealand but I’m not happy we lost so many scoring chances. We cannot afford to do that against Chile.

    “We are very focused because nothing has been won yet. It is another game in which we must give our very best and ensure we get a win.”

  • Nigeria vs New Zealand: Ajakaye wins player of the match award

    Nigeria vs New Zealand: Ajakaye wins player of the match award

    Flamingos forward, Opeyemi Ajakaye won the player of the match award in Nigeria’s 4-0 thrashing of New Zealand at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Friday.

    Though she didn’t register a goal  in the game, Ajakaye put up a spectacular display all through.

    Ajakaye has been in spectacular form right from the qualifying series notching up a series of goals to help Nigeria’s team qualification easy.

    Bankole Olowookere’s side scored twice in the first half through Aminat Bello and Miracle Usani to lead 2-0 in the first half of the group B encounter.

    Taiwo Tewogboola and Etim Edidiong added two more goals late in the second half to complete the rout.

    The Flamingos lost their first game in the competition by  2-1 to Germany.

    The Nigerian girls are presently occupying the second position in group B and will take on Chile in their final group game next week Monday.

    The Flamingos are looking to better their 2014 quater-final performance at the India 2022 FIFA  World Cup.

  • FIFA U-17 WorldCup: Flamingos demolish New Zealand 4-0 in India

    FIFA U-17 WorldCup: Flamingos demolish New Zealand 4-0 in India

    The Nigerian U-17 female team, Flamingos have put the loss to Germany behind them by demolishing opponent New Zealand by 4-0 in their second game of the tournament.

    Two first-half goals by Miracle Usani and Amina Bello ensured the Nigerian female teenagers ran away with the first-half win.

    Aminat Omowunmi Bello scored the first goal for Nigeria in the 16th minute after benefiting from an assist by Ajakaye.

    The second goal came in the 34th minute when 15-year-old Miracle Usani swung in a cross but deflected in by New Zealand defender Manaia Elliott.

    Taiwo Afolabi received a ball from Bello and unleashed a shot from 25 yards into the net for the third goal in the 75th minute.

    In additional time, Edidiong Etim latched on to a loose ball to unleash a shot into the net for the Flamingos’ fourth goal.

    Flamingos go top of group B pending the outcome of Germany versus Chile.

    No matter the outcome the Flamingos will be pegged back to second or third position on the group B table.

  • India 2022: Flamingos urged to go for maximum points against New Zealand

    India 2022: Flamingos urged to go for maximum points against New Zealand

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Thursday challenged the U17 Girls, Flamingos to put their defeat to Germany behind them and go all out for three points when they take the pitch against their New Zealand counterparts tomorrow afternoon at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India.

    Africa’s best team took the lead against European champions Germany on Tuesday but fell to two second half goals that has rendered their remaining encounters in the group phase, against New Zealand and Chile, must-win.

    “I spoke to the girls after the match against Germany to cheer them up, and I have spoken to them and their officials today for them to appreciate the enormity of the task before them, because the NFF and indeed, all Nigerians, want them to proceed to the knock-out stages. They must work hard at converting their opportunities. They must play to their strengths and do the best they can to emasculate the opposition.

    “A good win against New Zealand will be a great confidence-booster for the team going into the crunch encounter with Chile on Monday.”

    New Zealand will not be easy meat, as the girls from Down Under took the bronze medals at the 2018 World Cup finals in Uruguay – the only finals Nigeria have missed in the history of the tournament.

    Incidentally, New Zealand hosted the very first edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, 28th October – 16 November 2008.  It is a long way from those finals, when hosts New Zealand exited the competition at group stage after losses to Canada and Denmark, and a win over Colombia.

    Nigeria’s Flamingos suffered similar fate, after a 2-1 win over South Korea and 1-0 loss to England in Wellington, and a 2-2 draw with Brazil in Christchurch.

    Following their 1-2 defeat by Germany and New Zealand’s 1-3 loss to Chile, the Zealanders presently prop up the group B. Nigeria is third, but could go to second place ahead of the final matches of the pool if they overpower New Zealand by two goals and Germany overcome Chile in the second match at the same Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

    The encounter between Nigeria and New Zealand will kick off at 4.30pm India time (12.30pm Nigeria time).

  • NFF: National teams urged to embrace cost-cutting, make sacrifices for the country

    NFF: National teams urged to embrace cost-cutting, make sacrifices for the country

    All Nigerian national teams from the super Eagles down to the golden Eaglets including the Female teams have been urged to sacrifice more for the country, embrace cost cutting in order to avoid needless embarrassment during international tournament or match.

    The national female national team Flamingos presently representing the country  at the U-17 Worldcup holding in India have been told  to give their best performance in the competition and also advised to give their best off-field. Adding that their off- field perfomance is as good as playing for the country.

    Similarly, the Nigerian U-17 ladies were urged to be great ambassadors of the  great country, Nigeria.

    This was one of the deliberations held at the Inaugural meeting of the newly elected board of the Nigeria football Federation in Abuja on Tuesday 11, 2022.

    Some of the deliberations in the meetings read” In order to stem the tide accumulation of debts, the executive Committee opted to embark on cost cutting measures and frugal management of resources in the best interest of players and officials Management and staff.

    ”Every perceived of waste would be cut as a way of fostering the spirit of prudence, financial disclipline in the secretariat

    ”As a way of staving off needless embarrassment of the nation during international matches and tournaments, the board resolved to in line with the present economic conditions have regular conversations with players and officials of the National teams on the need to make sacrifices now and again when the resources to meet their expectations are not really available”