Shakirat Moshood’s late strike secured a hard-fought 1-0 win for Nigeria’s Flamingos against hosts Dominican Republic in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, continuing their perfect run in the tournament.
The Dominican Republic defense proved resilient, holding off Nigeria’s relentless attacks and frustrating their attempts at breaking through.
Moshood thought she had given her team the lead in the 13th minute, but her goal was ruled out for offside, keeping the scoreline level.
However, the determined forward finally broke the deadlock in the 89th minute with a stunning long-range shot, sealing the win for Nigeria.
This marked her fourth goal in just three games at the competition, reinforcing her position as a key player for the team.
With the victory, the Flamingos finished top of their group with nine points, ahead of Ecuador, who demolished New Zealand 4-0 to finish second with six points.
Ecuador’s Caprice Chiuchiolo was the standout in that match, scoring twice.
Nigeria’s head coach, Bankole Olowookere, will now prepare his side for a quarter-final clash against the United States on Saturday.
The match carries added significance, as Nigeria defeated the Americans at the same stage in the 2022 edition of the tournament in India.
The Flamingos will be looking to replicate their past success and push deeper into the knockout stages as the competition heats up.
