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Tag: India 2022

  • 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.

  • 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).

  • India 2022: Germany beat Nigeria 2-1 in group B encounter

    India 2022: Germany beat Nigeria 2-1 in group B encounter

    The Flamingos of Nigeria lost their opening game of the India U-17 FIFA  female World Cup tournament holding in India.

    The Nigerian female teenagers lost 1-2 to the German U-17 female national team on Tuesday at the Fatorda stadium in Goa.

    Nigeria dominated and had few chances in the early stages and eventually took the lead in the 29th minute through a fantastic low drive free-kick by Miracle Usani.

    The Olowookere ladies ran away as first-half winners but the resilient German side came back stronger in the second half to equalize and later scored the winner.

    The well-drilled Germans scored twice in the second period to scoop all three points, after Svea Stold equalized four minutes into the second half and Albert Mura scored a second in the 61st minute.

    The Flamingos next game is against The New Zealand side who lost 3-1 to Chile in the other group B match.

    The Flamingos of Nigeria have appeared at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Five times reaching the quarterfinals three times in 2010, 2012, and 2014.

    The girls are hoping to surpass their 2014 achievement of q-Final by hoping to reach the Semi-final of the tournament.

     

     

  • India 2022: FIFA female U-17 World Cup gets underway today

    India 2022: FIFA female U-17 World Cup gets underway today

    The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup begins in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, (today) and for India and the All India Football Federation (AIFF), it has been a long journey to get to this point.

    India were initially awarded the right to host the U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2020, but COVID-19 wreaked havoc and the tournament was postponed by a year before it was eventually cancelled.

    The Nigerian team known as Flamingos will face Germany today by 4 pm Nigerian time.

    Despite their pedigree in the game, both teams have never won the cadet World Cup, and they will have high hopes of rewriting the record books in India.

    Check out some simple facts and happenings before the October 11 start of the tournament.

    March 2019: FIFA picks India as the host of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2020 ahead of France. The tournament is initially scheduled to be held in 2020 from November 2 to 21.

    November  2019:  Former Super Falcons coach, Thomas Dennerby of Sweden is appointed as the head coach of the India U-17 women’s team.

    November  2019: Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which runs the Indian Super League (ISL), conducts the U-17 Women’s Championship. The tournament features 73 players who are split into four teams. This is used as another opportunity for scouting players for the World Cup.

    December 2019: AIFF hosts a three-nation tournament at the Mumbai Football Arena, where India finished runners-up to Sweden, after beating Thailand in the group stage of the tournament.

    April  2020: FIFA announces that the U-17 Women’s World Cup will be postponed and rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    May  2020: FIFA announces that the tournament will be held from February 17 to March 7, 2021, subject to monitoring of the pandemic situation.

    November 2020: FIFA says that the 2020 edition will be cancelled. However, India retains the hosting rights for the next edition of the tournament in 2022. The age limits of the eligible players are adjusted accordingly, which means that the players scouted for the 2020 World Cup had to be let go.

    March  2022: 35 players are summoned to a camp in Jamshedpur, with then assistant coach Alex Ambrose, who was later sacked due to alleged sexual misconduct.

    Among the 35, Shilky Devi was already a part of the senior team for the AFC Asian Cup 2022, while Astam Oraon, Nitu Linda, and Lynda Kom are selected for the SAFF U-19 Championship 2021 which took place in Bangladesh in December 2021.

    April  2022: A bulk of the players initially scouted ahead of the 2020 Women’s U-17 World Cup turnout for the Indian Arrows in the Indian Women’s League.

    June  2022: After their preparatory camp in Jamshedpur, Dennerby’s team participates in the 6th Torneo Female Football Tournament, along with hosts Italy, Mexico, and Chile. India concede 12 and score just one goal in the tournament.

    June 2022: India depart to Europe to play in the Open Nordic tournament in Norway. Here, alleged sexual misconduct allegations on assistant coach Ambrose come to surface and he is sent back to India.

    July 2022: Dr. SY Quraishi, head of the three-member Committee of Administrators, which was running Indian football puts out a tweet confirming the sacking of Ambrose.

    August  2022: FIFA lifts the suspension on India, making way for the country to host the World Cup. The decision is taken after the Supreme Court of India dismantles the CoA and the day-to-day management of AIFF is led by the Acting Secretary General of the board.

    September – October 2022: The final leg of preparations for the World Cup sees the team training in Barcelona. They play against Sweden and lose 1-3, before a 17-1 win against WSS Barcelona to round off their tours before the big tournament.

    October 2022: AIFF announces a 21-member squad for the 2022 FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup.

  • India 2022: Nigeria U-17 female team gears up for World Cup

    India 2022: Nigeria U-17 female team gears up for World Cup

    Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has invited 35 players to camp as the U17 Girls National Team, Flamingos commence preparations for the 7th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup taking place in India in the month of October.

    Team captain Alvine Dah-Zossu, first choice goalkeeper Faith Omilana, regular defenders Miracle Usani, Blessing Sunday, Comfort Folorunsho and Tumininu Adeshina, midfielders Blessing Emmanuel and Taiwo Afolabi, and forwards Opeyemi Ajakaye and Aminat Bello are among those told to report at the Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuye, Abuja on Tuesday 30th August 2022 with their training kits, medical certificate of fitness and international passport.

    The Flamingos conquered the challenges of Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt and Ethiopia to qualify for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, winning five of their six matches in the process.

    The 7th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals will be staged in India 11th – 30th October 2022.

    ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

    Goalkeepers: Faith Omilana (Naija Ratels); Linda Jiwuaku (Confluence Queens); Jessica Chikamso (Rivers Angels); Uchechi Onyechere (Heartland Queens); Comfort Erhabor (UK-based)

    Defenders: Miracle Usani (Abia Angels); Tumininu Adeshina (Naija Ratels); Iniobong Umanah (Nasarawa Amazons); Olamide Oyinlola (Naija Ratels); Confidence Nwora (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Delta Queens); Mamuzo Edafe (Rivers Angels); Immaculate Effiong (Abia Angels); Ekezie Onyedikachi (Heartland Queens); Blessing Sunday (Edo Queens); Marylin Essien (Rivers Angels)

    Midfielders: Alima Alasse (IFK Goteborg, Sweden); Bisola Mosaku (Kazeem Eletu Queens); Blessing Emmanuel (Naija Ratels); Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Mary Aderemi (Bayelsa Queens); Chidera Okenwa (Abia Angels)

    Forwards: Daniella Alali (LA Galaxy, USA); Tolulope Adubairo (Arsenal Women, England); Amarachi Ndudim (Abia Angels); Mary Lucky (Heartland Queens); Edidiong Etimi (Bayelsa Queens); Ijeoma Onweagba (Ibom Angels); Odinaka Odoh (Honey Badgers); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens); Aminat Bello (Naija Ratels); Alvine Dah-Zossu (Osun Babes); Kafayat Bashiru (Bayelsa Queens); Yetunde Ayantosho (Osun Babes); Udeme Ukoh (Ibom Angels)

  • India 2022: Flamingos to play Germany, Chile and New Zealand in group stage

    Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos have been placed in Group B of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in India, alongside women’s football powerhouse Germany, Chile and New Zealand.

     At the draw ceremony done inside the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday, hosts India are in Group A with powerhouses United States of America and Brazil, as well as African representatives Morocco. Cup holders Spain, Colombia, Mexico and China make up Group C while Group D has Japan, Tanzania, Canada and France.

     India and the United States of America will kick off the tournament officially inside the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar at 8pm India time on Tuesday, 11th October.

     The Flamingos, who missed the last tournament in Uruguay in 2018, will have a great re-integration party as they confront Germany at 8pm India time on Tuesday, 11th October (same time as the opening match) at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadiun in Goa.

     Nigeria’s other matches are against New Zealand on 14th October (4.30pm) also at the Nehru Stadium in Goa, and against Chile at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on 17th October (4.30pm).

     

    GROUP A: India, USA, Morocco, Brazil

     

    GROUP B: Germany, Nigeria, Chile, New Zealand

     

    GROUP C: Spain, Colombia, Mexico, China

     

    GROUP D: Japan, Tanzania, Canada, France

     

  • India 2022: Flamingos grab World Cup ticket

    Nigeria’s U-17 female football team  known as the Flamingos have grabbed India 2022 Worldcup ticket after playing out a 0-0 draw with Ethiopia in Abuja but won 1-0 on aggregate.

    Recall that Flamingos defeated their Ethiopia counterpart 1-0 in Addis Ababa last week in the first leg of the encounter,

    The two teams created clear cut goal scoring opportunities in the final round qualifying fixture, but were let down by their poor marksmanship.

    The Flamingos later took control of the game, but were unable to find a way past the Ethiopian goalkeeper, who made a number of superb saves.

    Taiwo Afolabi, Miracle Usani and Omowunmi Bello all spurned good chances for the Nigerian girls.

    Flamingos goalkeeper Faith Omilana also had to be at her best to deny the Ethiopians a couple of times.

    Bankole Olowookere’s side didn’t concede a goal in their qualifying series.

     

    The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is slated to hold in India from October 11 to 30, 2022.

  • India 2022: Olowookere says his girls are determined to do Nigeria proud by winning

    Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has said that his Nigeria U17 girls, Flamingos are inspired by the desire to make Nigerians happy by earning a ticket to the FIFA World Cup finals, as they confront Ethiopia U17 girls in a final round, final leg match at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday.

     

    “Our main objective is to do Nigeria proud, make Nigerians happy with the World Cup ticket. We will not under-rate the Ethiopians because they are a good team who also qualified to this stage. We defeated them 1-0 in their country but that does not mean we should assume the ticket is won. We must work hard and keep our heads until the referee’s final whistle. No match ends until it is called to an end by the referee.

     

    “We are focused on the task at hand. The Ethiopians have shown a flair for playing better on away ground and that is one thing we have taken on board. The best approach will be to keep the ball away from them while we do the playing. We have been working on that since we returned from Addis Ababa and I believe we have the energy and the stamina for that approach.”

     

    The Flamingos have scored a total of 15 goals in this qualifying campaign, conceding none. They scored a total of eight goals in a two-leg blizzard against the Democratic Republic of Congo, and then shot six past Egypt in Abuja and Cairo. The rearguard and goalkeeper Faith Omilana have stolidly maintained a pristine record.

     

    Aggregate victory over the Ethiopians, who turned back Uganda and South Africa in earlier rounds, would mean a direct flight to India for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals – the seventh edition since the competition was launched in New Zealand in 2008. The finals in India will hold 11th – 30th October.

     

    Olowookere will bank principally on the twin-attack force of Opeyemi Ajakaiye and Aminat Omowunmi Bello – who between them have scored nine of the team’s goals in their five matches so far. Ajakaiye is ahead with six goals while Bello has three.

     

  • India 2022: Nigeria’s U-17 girls set to secure worldcup ticket

    India 2022: Nigeria’s U-17 girls set to secure worldcup ticket

    Nigeria’s U17 girls are pumped up to do the hard work away from home by scoring as many goals as possible against hosts Ethiopia when both teams clash in a FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final round, first leg encounter in Addis Ababa on Friday.

    Fourteen goals for and none against is the tally of the Nigerian girls in this campaign, after 8-0 and 6-0 aggregate wins over DR Congo and Egypt respectively. Having won their two away games in the series, the Flamingos are determined to achieve another handsome win that will all but hand them the ticket to the finals in India in October this year.

    India 2022: Flamingos defeat Egypt U-17 girls 2-0 in Cairo

    The Nigeria delegation arrived in Addis Ababa on Wednesday night – which was at the behest of the technical crew as Ethiopia is high altitude territory. Head Coach Bankole Olowookere told thenff.com that his girls are upbeat about Friday’s encounter and will go all out for a win.

    “We are confident. It is going to be a tough game no doubt, because the Ethiopians are also a good team. That’s why we have worked hard in the past weeks to perfect observed weak points. The girls know what is at stake and they will throw everything into the fray.”

    Friday’s match will hold at the Abebe Bekila Stadium in Addis Ababa starting from 4pm Ethiopia time (2pm Nigeria time) and will be superintended by Namibian officials. The return leg is scheduled for the National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 4th Jun