2024 Fifa U17 WWC: Five takeaways from Flamingos emphatic win against Young Football Ferns

Nigeria kicked off their FIFA U17 Women's World Cup journey in style, securing a commanding 4-1 win against New Zealand's Young Football Ferns.

The Flamingos displayed a strong start, finding the back of the net within just two minutes as Shakirat Moshood calmly converted a pass from Harmony Chidi.

In the 13th minute, Taiwo Adegoke extended Nigeria's lead after capitalizing on a mistake by Brooke Neary, with an assist from Faridat Abdulwahab.

Abdulwahab then showcased her skills by scoring a spectacular goal in the 27th minute, receiving a pass from Shakirat Moshood.

The second half began with Nigeria taking the lead once again, as Taiwo Afolabi scored in the 56th minute with an assist from Taiwo Adegoke.

New Zealand responded in the 62nd minute with Hannah Saxon scoring their only goal, assisted by Ela Jerez.

With this win, Nigeria currently leads the group with three points and is set to face newcomer Ecuador in their next match.

Allnigeriasoccer,com presents five takeaways from the game.

Dominant First Half Performance

The Flamingos showcased an impressive performance, clearly evident by their three unanswered goals scored in the first half.

Nigeria controlled the match against New Zealand, excelling in all facets of the game and preventing their opponents from finding any rhythm.

Although Nigeria began the second half with strong momentum, New Zealand gradually found their footing as the game progressed.

High Line Defense

Nigeria implemented a high line defense against New Zealand, effectively hindering the host's ability to build play from the back.

Throughout the match, the Flamingos' defenders positioned themselves near the center circle, maintaining a high line that kept New Zealand's forwards in an offside position.

Disappointing Night for Brook Neary

New Zealand's goalkeeper, Brook Neary, faced a challenging and frustrating night, marked by two critical errors that contributed to Nigeria's goals.

Her mistake directly led to Nigeria's second goal, and she could have performed better on the third goal in the first half.

Choreography Celebration From Nigeria

The Flamingos showcased a distinctive choreography celebration following their goals against New Zealand.

After each goal, the Nigerian team would come together to perform a choreographed dance in front of their fans and coaching staff, concluding with a salute to both the technical crew and the audience.

This celebration was repeated after every goal scored by the Flamingoes.

Taiwo Adegoke and Faridat Abdulwahab Impress

Taiwo Adegoke and Faridat Abdulwahab stood out for Nigeria as they excelled in both defense and midfield during the match.

Both players not only scored during the game but also assisted the second and the fourth goal.

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: The Super Falcons show

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