The Nigeria U-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, got a hard-fought 1-0 win against the Dominican Republic in their final group-stage match of the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria’s progression to the quarterfinals became a reality after a late strike by Shakirat Moshood whose long-range shot found the back of the net.
The highly competitive match had both sides creating chances but were unable to break the deadlock until Moshood’s decisive goal.
Nigeria’s defense remained consistent, successfully pushing away the Dominican Republic’s attempts to equalize. This victory continued the Flamingos’ impressive run in the tournament, having already secured a dominant 4-0 win over Ecuador earlier in the group stage.
This victory automatically takes Nigeria to the quarterfinals, where they will face the USA. The matchup is a highly anticipated rematch of their previous encounter in last year’s World Cup, where the Flamingos eliminated the USA on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The upcoming clash promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for a spot in the semifinals.
While their opponents, the USA, pose a significant challenge given their reputation as one of the tournament favorites, the Nigerian team will look to build on their momentum and capitalize on their strong defensive performances.