Nigeria’s national under-17 women football team were in rampant mood on Sunday as they whipped hosts DR Congo 3-0 in their 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier in Kinshasa.

In the second round first leg match, the three-time World Cup quarter–finalists started the game brightly.

They dominated the hosts to such a degree that it was a surprise the opening goal did not come until the 36th minute.

That was when defender Miracle Usani drove the ball forward for a pullout which Blessing Emmanuel utilised to score the Flamingos’ first goal of the day.

There were near-misses and shunned penalty kick appeals thereafter, for there to be no more goals in the first half.

In the second half, the Flamingos continued where they left off earlier as they blasted a couple of free-kicks against the wall.

On the other hand, goalkeeper Faith Omilana ensured there was no silver lining for the home team as they fought back to brighten their fans’ faces.

Raheemot Adebayo and Anastasia Atume joined the fray in the 63rd minute to replace Aminat Bello and Kafayat Bashiru respectively, and the changes brought instant reward.

Atume was fouled near the Congolese goal area, with Tumininu Adesina ramming the ball into the net for Nigeria’s second goal.

Atume missed a sitter two minutes later, but with 14 minutes to go, Taiwo Ajakaye took on the Congolese defence to draw out goalkeeper Lumela before finishing smoothly.

Frustration set into the Congolese game thereafter, and they finished the tie with only 10 players after Nwanji was shown the red card with 20 minutes to go.

The teams will clash again on March 19 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, with the Flamingos already with a leg into the third round.

There, they have their Egyptian counterparts waiting. 

The 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup will be the competition’s seventh edition and will be held in India from October 11 to October 30.

(NAN)