FIFA U17 Women’s World: Flamingos Lose 1-4 to Canada in Group Opener in Morocco

Nigeria’s Under-Seventeen women’s football team have lost their opening Group D game of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in Morocco.

The Canadian girls scored three second-half goals to dominate Nigeria four-one in the opening match at the Football Academy Mohammed VI in Moroccan city of Salé, near Rabat.

The game was barely two minutes old when Canada went in front after a strong run by Molly Hale from the left was smartly finished off by Gabriela Istocki.

The Flamingos rose stoutly to the challenge, contesting for every ball, and taking over the midfield. In the 9th minute, captain Shakirat Moshood’s long-range drive was saved by goalkeeper Khadijah Cisse, and four minutes later, Moshood’s volley from the edge of the box rose a little too high.

As the Flamingos continued to pile pressure, Chisom Nwachukwu shot directly at Cisse from the left wing, but on the half hour, Cisse could not hold firm to Kaosarat Olanrewaju’s shot as Nigeria broke forward again, and Queen Joseph was on hand to bundle the ball over the line for the equalizer.

The Flamingos came into the second half even more energized, and a good cross by Nwachukwu was punched away by the alert Cisse in the 68th minute.

Five minutes later, Canada went 2-1 up after a long ball freed substitute Melisa Kekic, and she turned a defender before firing low past Elizabeth Boniface.

With 10 minutes left, substitute Julia Amireh profited hugely as goalkeeper Boniface spilled the ball in an attempt to foil an attack by the rampant Canadians, making it 3-1.

Six minutes later, it was 4-1, as Amireh outpaced the Nigerian defence and drove the ball to the far right of Boniface.

The Flamingos will next take on France on Wednesday evening.