Nigeria Content Online

Coach of Nigeria’s
U-17 women’s national team, Peter Dedevbo, has praised the Trinidad and
Tobago team for the resilience they displayed in their match against the
Flamingoes.

Nigeria defeated the
hosts 2-1 in a match played in the early hours of Thursday Nigerian
time, and advanced to the quarter-finals of the ongoing FIFA U-17
Women’s World Cup courtesy of a match winning goal that arrived four
minutes from time by Loveth Ayila. It was a hard fought victory for the
Flamingoes, and Dedevbo who had expected a much easier game than the 3-2
opening day win over defending champions North Korea couldn’t help but
commend the Trinidadians for their effort. “I was very impressed by the
Trinidad and Tobago team,” said the Nigerian coach, who was on his feet
for most parts of the game against the Soca Princesses. “They have a lot
of talent and the determination and the courage they showed throughout
the match was commendable.”

Excellent goalkeeping

The victory margin
could however been much wider but for some inspirational goalkeeping
from Linfah Jones, in goal for the defending champions. The goalkeeper
stood like a rock between everything the Nigerians could aim at her
goal. Even on the few occasions that she was beaten, such as in the 24th
minute when she was rooted to the spot following a rocket of a shot
from 25 metres by the Nigerian captain Oluchi Ofoegbu, her crossbar was
on hand to come to her rescue.

The Nigerians
nevertheless went ahead in the 28th minute of the game when Francisca
Ordega coolly headed the ball over the advancing Jones after latching
onto a long ball. But Jones soon made another save to prevent Halimatu
Ayinde from doubling the tally. Ayinde had also fluffed a chance in the
fifth minute which would have put the Flamingos ahead. Jones’
goalkeeping heroics, and Nigeria’s profligacy in front of goal, then
paid off for the Trinidadians when Linda Hinds levelled in the 36th
minute with a well placed shot for her second goal of the tournament.
The ball rolled onto her path following an initial save by Nigerian
goalkeeper Amina Abu.

The Trinidadians then displayed a great deal of determination to keep
the score line level and appeared set to walk away with a point before
Ayila’s late goal sealed victory for Nigeria and with it a ticket to the
quarter finals, even with the game against already eliminated
Chile.Trinidad and Tobago, for their part, must secure a win to progress
at the expense of final-day opponents North Korea. The North Koreans
defeated the Chileans with a comfortable 3-0 margin.