By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist
Victory lap…Flamingos celebrating one of their goals in a previous match in Abuja. They will reanact this scene on Saturday.
Except the unexpected happens, Nigeria’s junior women’s football team, Flamingos look good to pick one of the tickets to represent Africa in the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final billed for India later this year as they try to finish off their opponents from Ethiopia in the final round return leg tie slated for MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday.
The host team holds a one goal advantage scored by goalpoacher Opeyemi Ajakaiye in the 1-0 away victory got at Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa a fortnight ago and will qualify should they avoid defeat or conceed more than two goals on the day. Nigeria did not qualify for the last edition in 2018 in Uruguay hence the team is condemned to qualify for India 2022.
Already, Head Coach Oloowokere Bankole and his assistants have so far presented a team that has not conceded a single goal in five matches with fleetfooted Ajakaiye scoring six goals in five qualifying matches. She has also scored double brace in two games.
Bankole’s girls are also to be dreaded by opponents, having scored 15 goals in their five qualifying matches so far. They defeated DR Congo 8-0 on aggregate and handed Egypt a 6-0 aggregate spanking in the third round as well as a 1-0 win over Ethiopia in the first leg of the final round.
Indeed, the Flamingos possess the quality to take Nigeria over the line in Abuja on Saturday with the team boasting of talented players like Ajakaiye’s strike partner Omowunmi Bello, Mercy Itimi, Anastasia Atume and Captain
Alvine Dah-Zossu.
Also available for selection on the crucial match are goalkeepers Faith Omilana, Linda Jiwuaku and Jessica Inyiama just as defenders Comfort Folorunsho, Tumininu Adeshina and Miracle Usani are rearing to go.
Flamingos coaching crew led by Head Coach Oloowokere Bankole (far right); Queendolyn Akpan (1st Assistant); Atunga Ndanusa (Goalkeepers trainer); Arit Roberts (Team Secretary) and Medical staff.
However, Coach Bankole is optimistic of victory over the Ethiopians as believes his team has what it takes to beat their opponents again in Abuja after inflicting a home defeat on them in Addis Ababa.
Said he: “I believe we have worked hard enough to cover ourselves in glory on Saturday by defeating the Ethiopians to show that our away victory was not a fluke at all. By the Grace of God our strategies will work for us to earn us a victory”, the Coach assured.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) listed four Senegalese match officials to handle the winner takes all final round return leg tie between Nigeria and Ethiopia in Abuja.
As reported by Prompt News last weekend, Mame Coumba Faye was appointed as the Center Referee of the crucial match while she will be assisted by compatriots, Adia Isseu Cisse (1st Assistant); Fatou Bintou Sene (2nd Assistant) and Fatou Thioune (4th Official).
Flamingos
CAF also appointed Ms. Aisha Nalule of Uganda as Match Commissioner and Emmanuella Grace Aglago from Ghana as Referee Assessor while
Nigeria’s Dr. Ozi Salami Onimisi is the Covid-19 Officer.
**Flamingos in camp**
*Goalkeepers: Faith Omilana, Linda Jiwuaku and Jessica Inyiama.
*Defenders: Comfort Folorunsho, Tumininu Adeshina, Olamide Oyinlola, Josephine Edafe and Miracle Usani, Confidence Nwoha and Mistura Yusuf.
Midfielders: Blessing Emmanuel, Taiwo Afolabi, Chidera Okenwa and Joy Igbokwe.
Forwards: Omowunmi Bello, Mercy Itimi, Alvine Dah-Zossu, Anastasia Atume, Opeyemi Ajakaiye, Yetunde Ayantosho, Bisola Mosaku and Raheemot Adebayo.
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