Nigeria’s Under 17 girls, Flamingos, on Saturday defeated their hosts, South Africa’s Bantwana 3-1 to put a firm leg in the final round of the qualification series for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.
Flamingos goal poacher, Shakirat Moshood finished put Nigeria ahead in the 20th minute to put the 2022 at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe in Pretoria.
Harmony Chidi, who scored 13 goals in the qualifying series for last year’s finals, made no mistake from six yards as Nigeria was awarded a penalty.
Bantwana kept the Flamingos in their sights when they also converted a penalty two minutes after the break, courtesy Malebana, but Chidi took Nigeria out of South Africa’s sights with a third goal in the 68th minute.
Both teams will clash again, in the return leg, at the Remo Stars’ Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday next week.
The winner will advance to the final round of the series, where all four winners would qualify to join host Morocco as Africa’s flag-bearers at this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, 17th October – 5th November.