Flamingoes flog Zambia’s She-PolopoloThe U-17 Women National Team, otherwise known as Flamingoes, really took the battle to their hosts, She-Polopolo of Zambia in a 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round, first leg match in Lusaka on Saturday, winning the match 2-1. Two-goal hero of the team’s triumph against Kenya in Nairobi in the previous round, Patience Okaeme and dazzling playmaker, Halimat Ayinde scored for Nigeria early in the second half before the Zambians, 7-1 winners over Botswana in the earlier round, got a consolation goal. Nigeria pressed hard from the start and the Flamingoes were unlucky not to get a goal in the first period. Head Coach Peter Dedevbo said at the end: “Yes, I am happy that we won, but it could have been by a much bigger margin. All the same, we savour the victory and now look ahead to the second leg in Nigeria”. The win ensures the Nigerian girls put one leg firmly in Azerbaijan for their third consecutive appearance at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals, with earlier outings in New Zealand 2008 and Trinidad and Tobago 2010. The return leg comes up at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta on Saturday, March 24.

Report by Aderonke ogunleye