Flamingos thrash Burkina Faso 6-0 to reach final round of WC qualifiers

The Flamingos of Nigeria have advanced to the final round of qualifiers for the 2024 U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The team inched closer to the World Cup ticket after ruthlessly scoring half a dozen goals against Burkina Faso at the Moshood Abiola stadium in Abuja on Saturday.

The Flamingos had played out a one-all draw with their opponents in Bamako on May 12. They advanced to the next round with a 7-1 aggregate victory.

In the return leg, Nigeria scored twice in the first half before adding four in the second period, ripping their opponents to shreds in front of a sizeable home crowd.

Harmony Chidi got a hattrick, and Peace Effiong scored a brace while Kareem Ramota was among the goals.

Chidi began the onslaught in the 11th minute after capitalising on a defensive blunder by the duo of Faridatou Ouedraogo and Obaidatou Nkiema to dribble past goalkeeper Agueratou Baguian.

Effiong doubled the lead in the 34th minute after riding a couple of rough tackles to flash to put the ball past the Baguian.

Chidi got her second goal of the game in the 74th minute when Taiwo Afolabi’s volley shot from 20 yards rocked the crossbar. She was at the right place and time to convert the rebound.

Ramota Kareem scored Nigeria’s fourth in the 84th minute. Two minutes later, Chidi’s dipping shot hit the back of the net, and she completed her hattrick of goals. Effiong got her brace shortly after a wonderful team move and wrapped up the big victory for the Flamingos.

Nigeria will play the winners of the Senegal and Liberia match in the final round of the qualifiers.

The 2024 U-17 Women’s World Cup is billed to be held in the Dominican Republic from October 16 to November 3.

The Flamingos won bronze at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.