THE Flamingos of Nigeria took a step closer to qualifying for the India 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a big win over Egypt in Abuja on Sunday.
Omowunmi Bello struck twice, while Opeyemi Ajakaye and Miracle Usani scored the other goals as the Nigerian girls won the first leg of the qualifying tie 4-0 at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
Ajakaye opened the scoring in the 38th minute, moments after Tumininu Adeshina had come close.
Egypt tried to fight their way back into the game when Laila Zaher got the better of the Nigeria defence and forced goalkeeper Faith Omilana into a save before the ball was cleared from danger.
Bello then headed home the second goal in the 39th minute from a corner kick by Adeshina to reassert Nigeria’s authority.
Ajakaiye and Judith Okah combined in the first minute of the second half to nearly make it 3-0 but the opportunity was not taken.
Usani did make it 3-0 in the 54th minute but the Nigerian girls wanted more.
The Flamingos were relentless in their search for more goals and they were rewarded in the 62nd minute when Bello confidently lifted the ball over the Egyptian goalkeeper El Taher, after she had been played in by Taiwo Afolabi in a breakaway.
Bello had two more chances to claim a hat-trick but missed narrowly from close range, just as Ajakaiye fluffed a good opportunity with 14 minutes left.
The second leg is in Cairo on 30 April, with the winners facing either Ethiopia or South Africa in the final round of the qualifying series.
Ethiopia beat South Africa 3-0 away in their first leg on Saturday.
