Soccer
Nigeria’s Flamingos. Photo Credit NFF Comms
Nigeria’s U17 girls, the Flamingos, saw their 10-match unbeaten streak snapped in dramatic fashion on Saturday morning after a pulsating 4–3 defeat to New Zealand in Casablanca, Soccernet.ng reports.
It is the Flamingos’s first loss in 11 warm-up games ahead of the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Despite the setback, Bankole Olowookere’s side showed attacking brilliance that will give them confidence as they fine-tune for the global showpiece.
The match was a thrilling contest of end-to-end football.
Nigeria made the brighter start, pressing high and forcing an early corner inside two minutes.
Captain Shakirat Moshood looked lively in the opening exchanges, while goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface kept her side level with a sharp save from a New Zealand free kick.
The Flamingos’ early dominance paid off in the 13th minute when Queen Joseph opened the scoring with a calm finish after latching onto a precise through ball.
But the Kiwis struck back through Laura Bennett in the 25th minute; the first goal Nigeria conceded during their entire series of preparatory matches.
Moments later, New Zealand had another effort ruled out for offside before Moshood restored Nigeria’s lead with a stunning long-range strike in the 42nd minute, sending the girls into the break 2–1 ahead.
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Soccer Second-half surge sees New Zealand edge Nigeria
The second half was a rollercoaster of chances and momentum shifts.
Queen Joseph nearly extended Nigeria’s lead, only to see her shot rattle the post. That miss proved costly as Bennett struck again in the 55th minute to make it 2–2, before completing her hat-trick in the 74th minute to put New Zealand ahead for the first time.
Nigeria responded swiftly through Ayo’s powerful drive from outside the box to level at 3–3, but Candy Sienna’s spectacular 80th-minute strike sealed victory for the Kiwis.
The Flamingos threw bodies forward in the final stages but couldn’t find a way past a resolute New Zealand defence.
The defeat ends Nigeria’s remarkable run of 10 unbeaten matches, a streak in which they scored 47 goals and conceded only four.
The Flamingos will next face Paraguay in their final preparatory match before moving camp to Rabat, where their Group D fixtures against Canada, France, and Samoa await. Nigeria’s World Cup campaign begins on October 19.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
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