Flamingoes Lash Kenya 2-0 in Nairobi

The Under 17 Women National Team, nicknamed Flamingoes, on Saturday in Nairobi started their campaign for a place at this year’s FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup finals on a bright note, when they defeated their Kenyan counterparts 2-0 in a first round, first leg match.

Patience Okaene scored in the 27th and 63rd minutes of the encounter at the Nyayo National Stadium to set Nigeria on a sure course for a place in the second and final round of qualifiers come the month of March.

“The girls played well and dominated the game, and they showed the right spirit throughout”, said Aisha Falode, Coordinator of Nigeria’s Women National Teams, who was with the team in Nairobi.

It could have been a virtual roasting of their hosts but Ugandan FIFA Woman Referee Irene Namubiru disallowed a goal scored by Yetunde Adeboyejo in the first half of the encounter.

Nigeria will host the return leg of the fixture on Saturday, February 4.

Three countries will fly Africa’s flag at this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals to be staged in Azerbaijan between September and October.

The Flamingoes participated in the two earlier editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, in New Zealand (2008) and Trinidad and Tobago (2010), reaching the quarter finals in the last edition before losing to eventual winners South Korea in extra time.