The Flamingos, Nigeria’s women’s U-17 national team, emerged victorious against hosts Dominican Republic in the ongoing 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, thanks to a dramatic 89th-minute goal scored on Wednesday in Santo Domingo.
Shakira Moshood, a skilled midfielder, struck from 25 yards with a powerful left-footed shot that beat the Dominican goalkeeper, bringing her tournament tally to four.
In the 15th minute, Moshood’s effort was deemed offside by the Video Assistant Referee, while Taiwo Afolabi’s subsequent shot necessitated a save from the Dominican goalkeeper.
The Flamingos resumed their onslaught after halftime, culminating in Moshood’s decisive goal.
This triumph, their third in succession, solidifies the Flamingos’ position atop Group A with nine points, eclipsing Ecuador, the host nation Dominican Republic, and New Zealand.
The Flamingos have been in blistering form in the South American nation, winning their first two games, scoring eight goals, and conceding just one.
Coach Bankole Olowokoore’s side began the tournament with an emphatic 4-1 win over New Zealand in the Group A opener at Cibao Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros and followed that up with another impressive 4-0 victory over Ecuador.
Olowokoore had expressed confidence that the girls would make Nigeria proud at the tourney, saying, “I will not change our messages to Nigerians but to thank and appreciate them for their support. They should keep supporting us and having kept these vigils, it will not go in vain. Anytime they are watching us, we will give them joy, and we are going to make them proud. This is a promise that we made to them before we left Nigeria, and we are fulfilling the promise to them for them to be proud of us.”
The FIFA U-17 WWC’s X handle reveals that the Nigerian match has the highest attendance for the Dominican Republic National Team, with 13,535 spectators.
The Flamingos will now meet the United States in the tournament’s quarterfinal stage.
