By Felix Onojaiyefe
Nigeria’s Flamingos have bounced back to winning ways, at the on-going FIFA U-17 Women World Cup in India as they thrashed New Zealand 4-0 Friday afternoon.
The Flamingos, who had lost narrowly 2-1 to Germany on Tuesday, started spritely and had come close a number of times before Aminat Omowunmi Bello headed into the net after a sweet pull-out by left-back Tumininu Adeshina.
Right-back Miracle Usani, whose marvelous free-kick put Germany on the back-foot on Tuesday, scored her second of the tournament and Nigeria’s second in the 34th minute to make it 2-0 in favour of Africa’s best team at the interval.
Ajakaye, the team’s top scorer in the African qualifying campaign, headed powerfully from Adeshina’s corner on the hour mark, but the New Zealand goalkeeper punched the ball away.
Substitutes Edidiong Etim and Ajakaye missed opportunities within a minute, but in the 75thminute, midfielder Taiwo Afolabi scored Nigeria’s third by swinging the ball into the top right corner from 20 yards.
Victory gave Nigeria three precious points,and stand them in good stead for qualification if they defeat Chile on Monday afternoon at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.