U17WCQ: Nigeria’s Flamingos defeat South Africa, proceed to next round

Nigeria took a giant step to qualification for the 2025 U-17 Women’s World Cup on Saturday, beating South Africa 2-0 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.

The Flamingos had last week defeated the Bantwana 3-1 in the first leg of the clash, meaning they reached the next phase of the qualification race with a whooping 5-1 aggregate victory.

The game produced no goal after the early exchanges. But, two-goal heroine in the first leg, Harmony Chidi, coolly nodded home from an acute angle in the 37th minute on Saturday to compound the fixture for the visitors.

Shakirat Moshood, who scored a goal in the first leg, was the provider from a well-taken free kick on the right. She turned provider again 11 minutes into the second half when she found Aishat Animashaun, who lifted the ball over and above Samekelise Mthembu into the net for Nigeria’s second.

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The Flamingos were drawn bye into the second round of the World Cup qualification battle, owing to their impressive outing at the last edition of the tournament in which they ended third.

Nigeria will square off against the winner between Botswana and Algeria in the final round of qualification.

Four countries from the final round of qualifiers will team up with the host nation, Morocco as Africa’s flagbearers at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The competition is billed to take place from 17 October to 5 November 2025.