The women’s Under-20 football team of Nigeria, the Flamingoes began their campaign at the maiden West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone B tournament on a whirlwind fashion, trouncing Niger 7-0 in their opening Group B game last Sunday.
Known as giants in the game, the Flamingoes reaffirmed this credentials, right from the start of the game and by the third minute, had scored their first goal from an Esther Ajakaye strike. Ten minutes later, the young lanky striker would double her side’s lead with her personal second goal.
The francophone neighbours, who seem to have arrived at the tournament with little preparation, could not stop the Nigerians who exploited their weak defence to pummel them.
Indeed, the Nigeriens in a last minute friendly just days to the kick off the competition, had lost 11-0 to Ghana’s Black Princesses.
That trial match was to help them identity their weakness and work on them before the competition, however, it rather exposed them further as the Flamingoes seized every opportunity to add to their tally.
Chineyere Kalu (30th), Adaobi Okah (49th), Victoria Alanu (64th) all converted the chances that came their way with Ajakaye netting a hattrick on the 54th minute to put herself in the lead for the top scorer’s award.
After going up 6-0, the Flamingoes slowed their onslaught and just when the Nigeriens thought they would not pick anymore balls from their post, Chioma Olise struck too, putting the icing on the cake right in injury time to end the game 7-0
In the other Group B game, Burkina Faso beat Togo 2-0 in the all francophone affair.
After an entertaining first 15 minutes that saw the two sides take turns to threaten the other, it were the Burkinabes who had the better of the exchanges with Mounifatou Helbi scoring the first goal on the 20th minute.
The second half was not much different from what transpired in the first leg and again, Burkina Faso got the upper hand, this time, Alimeta Belem scoring on the 83rd minute to give her side a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Though they also earned all three points, they lie second behind Nigeria who lead with more goals scored.
Source: Graphiconline
