Shakirat Moshood’s 89^th minute strike from 24 yards earned Nigeria all three points against a heroic Dominican Republic side in the two team’s final match of Group A at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday morning. The win ensured that Nigeria will battle USA in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Playing for the first time in Santo Domingo, the barnstorming Nigerians found the going tough under driving rain against a determined host nation, and could not make an overwhelming ball possession count until Moshood, now with four goals, unleashed a rocket from outside the box.

Captain Renata Mercedes and goalkeeper Rondon led a famous resistance against one of the elites of the competition, and the hosts deserved praise for their pushback that ensured the Flamingos made nothing out of 16 corner kicks.

Coach Bankole Olowookere made three changes to the starting line-up, bringing in Rokibat Azeez, Blessing Ifitezue and Ramotalahi Kareem in place of Onyedikachi Ekezie, Peace Effiong and Harmony Chidi.

He restored Effiong and Chidi after the hour, but it took a special effort from Moshood, scorer of the tournament’s fastest goal, to break the hearts of the hosts.

Victory means the Flamingos top their group, three points better than second-placed Ecuador, who walloped New Zealand 4-0 to finish with six points and set up a clash with Spain on Sunday. Caprice Chiuchiolo netted a brace.

Head Coach Justine Madugu on Tuesday expressed his delight that all 25 invited players are already in camp as the team prepared for its first training session at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, ahead of the two international friendly matches against the senior women national team of Algeria.

“I am very happy that all the invited players are here. We will be able to have four days of full training sessions and be in great shape for the first game. We thank the Nigeria Football Federation for arranging these two games for the Super Falcons.”

However, the heavy downpour in Lagos on Tuesday made the training session impossible, with the team having to return to Eko Hotel & Towers for gym sessions.

The nine-time African champions will take on the Algerian girls at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Saturday, 26^th October, and again at the same venue on Tuesday, 29^th October. Both matches will kick off at 4pm.

A 35-woman Algerian delegation is scheduled to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday morning, aboarda Qatar Airways flight, with the match officials from Benin Republic also scheduled to arrive in Lagos same day.

The Beninoise quartet of Aurore Christine Ligan, Nafissatou Yekini Shitou, Sonia Emilie Louis and Laurande Offin will take charge of the two matches, with Ligan serving as referee for the first match with Offin as fourth official, while Offin will be at the centre for the second match with Ligan in the role of fourth official.

The Nigeria Football Federation will appoint a match commissioner for each of the games.

SUPER FALCONS TO PLAY ALGERIA

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Monle Oyono (Edo Queens); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)

Defenders: Chidinma Okeke (Club America, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive FC, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Edo Queens); Florence Alexander (Bayelsa Queens); Blessing Ilivieda (Edo Queens); Sikiratu Isa (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Tessy Ojiyovwi (Nasarawa Amazons); Chidinma Ogbuchi (FC Robo Queens)

Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Esther Onyenezide (Hapoel Katamon, Israel); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Josephine Matthias (Nasarawa Amazons); Amarachi Odoma (Edo Queens)

Forwards: Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Goodness Osigwe (Edo Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (Nasarawa Amazons); Delight Nwosu (Bayelsa Queens); Folashade Ijamilusi (Edo Queens); Mercy Omokwo (Bayelsa Queens); Olamide Bolaji (Remo Stars Ladies)   

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.