Nigeria’s Flamingos continue to prove to the world that their third-place finish at the last edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals was no fluke, as they earned a handsome 4-0 win over Ecuador on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals of this year’s competition in style.

With the 4-1 win over New Zealand in their first match, the Flamingos have scooped maximum six points in their first two matches, with eight goals for and only one against, and are surely in the last eight, ahead of their final group phase encounter against host nation Dominican Republic on Tuesday night.

Energetic playmaker Shakirat Moshood, who scored one of the tournament’s fastest goals with her 80-second strike against New Zealand on Wednesday, sent the very busy goalkeeper Maria Rodriguez the wrong way from the penalty spot in the 26^th minute, after Captain Taiwo Afolabi was impeded in the box.

Pacy forward Peace Effiong, who had seen her shot thwarted by the right leg of Rodriguez in the 18^th minute, was disconcerted to see her effort again foiled by the big goalkeeper on the half hour.

Harmony Chidi, scorer of 13 goals in the qualifying series, rocked the crossbar just before the half-time whistle as Nigeria, once more, broke forward.

In the second half, Chidi finally found her first goal of the tournament, picking her spot cleverly in the 54^th minute to score after a pass by Aishat Animashaun.

Peace Effiong took the cue, to also score her first goal of the competition, latching on to a faulty clearance of a backpass by substitute goalkeeper Pozo.

Nigeria got her fourth goal in added time, as Moshood picked her spot to lash home after Chidi found her from the right.

The Flamingos will take on the host nation on Tuesday night.

The CAF Women’s Champions League draw will take place this Friday at the Mohammed VI Complex in Maâmora, as the Confederation of African Football announced in a press release.

The draw which will chart the way to the title match, will start at the auditorium of the sumptuous Mohammed VI Football Complex inSalé, Morocco.

According to CAF, the pairing of the eight teams includes five debutants, including the Nigerian champion, Edo Queens.

The other debutants are: Aigles de la Medina of Senegal), University of the Western Cape in South Africa, Tutankhamun of Egypt and CBE FC of Ethiopia.

They are joined by two-time winners Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa who are the 2022 champions and hosts ASFAR of Morocco, as well as TP Mazembe (DR Congo) who are returning to the competition after missing the last edition in Cote d’Ivoire.

Adding a touch of history and inspiration to the event, former ASFAR player and current U-23 Morocco Women’s National Team, Fatiha Laasiri, will serve as the draw assistant. Laasiri, a trailblazer in Moroccan women’s football, is renowned for her contribution to the growth of the sport and continues to be a role model for aspiring female footballers across Africa..

The final tournament will be held on 09-23 November 2024.

• 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.”