• 2022 : Nigeria 4-0 New Zealand

• 2024: Nigeria 4-1 New Zealand

Nigeria’s U-17 Women’s team overwhelmed their New Zealand counterparts on Wednesday in one of the opening matches ofthe FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.

It was the second consecutive massive win that the Nigerian side had over the Oceania sides. Both teams met two years ago and the Nigeria side won 4-0, making it eight goals for Nigeria in encounters with New Zealand.

 Wednesday’s scoreline was somehow an improvement for the Oceania team.

That probably explained the overwhelming joy that followed their solitary goal that brought scorelines to 4-1 on Wednesday.

 When Hannah Saxon scored, the entire squad went into a frenzy celebration as if they had scored the winning goal.

New Zealand head coach Alana Gunn later explained: “A goal is massive for us.

“It’s an awesome achievement from the team and especially for Hannah, she’ll remember that type of moment forever.”

Spectators were possibly still adjusting their seats when Nigeria’s U-17 Women’s team set the Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic agog with a sensational goal.

By the time the record books are opened, Shakirat Moshood’s goal within 90 seconds from kick-off will be adjudged as the competition’s fastest goal in 16 years. What a sensational and dreamy opening!

It led to Nigeria coasting to a 4-1 victory over flummoxed New Zealand as the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals rolled into action.

The precocious Faridat Abdulwahab rocked the crossbar seven minutes later from 23 yards, and in the 13^th minute, Nigeria went two goals up when defender Taiwo Adegoke’s shot from well outside the box was misjudged by the goalkeeper who palmed the ball over the line before scrambling in vain to push it out.

 A check with the Video Assistant Referee confirmed that the ball had, indeed, crossed the line.

Firing from all cylinders, Nigeria again rattled the opposing goalkeeper in the 17^th minute, with a sharp shot from Moshood that was punched over the bar.

Four minutes later, Peace Effiong, all over the pitch, heaved the ball too high from six yards. In the 26^th minute, Harmony Chidi rounded the goalkeeper who made a great block on the second attempt.

Captain Taiwo Afolabi stung the goalkeeper’s palms from close range in the 28^th minute, and from the resultant corner kick, Abdulwahab easily lifted the ball over the goalie from 16 yards for Nigeria’s third goal.

In the second half, the Flamingos continued their raid on the opposition goal, and eight minutes into the restart, it was 4-0 after Afolabi’s looping header from Adegoke’s cross from the right sailed over the goalkeeper into the net.

On the hour, Saxon scored a goal right from the training ground, collecting the ball from a corner kick and doing a smart turn to shoot past goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, thus pulling one back for the New Zealanders.

Although Chidi, Nigeria’s top scorer from the qualifying series, was again foiled in the 75^th minute, the Flamingos finished on the ascendancy. They will look forward to another three points against debutants Ecuador on Saturday, which will take them to the tournament’s knockout stage.  

When Hannah Saxon scored against Nigeria in the 60th minute of the Group A duel of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday night to reduce their deficit to 4-1, the enter squad went into sensational celebration as if they had scored the winning goal.

New Zealand head coach Alana Gunn later explained: “A goal is massive for us.

“It’s an awesome achievement from the team and especially for Hannah, she’ll remember that type of moment forever.”

Nigeria’s coach, Bankole Olowookere was philosophical as he remarked: “It’s a good first game for us. We are taking them as they come, so a good game for us, scoring four goals and only conceding one, so not bad for our first game.”