Nigeria’s U17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, delivered a commanding 5-0 victory over Guinea in Abidjan on Saturday, taking firm control of their second-round, first-leg qualifier for the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Defender Oparanmegwa Pattra announced herself on the international stage with a composed and commanding 90-minute display at the heart of Nigeria’s backline. Tasked with neutralizing Guinea’s attacking threats
The Delta Queens center-back denied wave after wave of opposition advances with intelligent positioning, timely interceptions, and calm distribution. Her performance marked a seamless transition to senior international football and earned praise for its maturity and tactical discipline.
Head Coach Akeem Busari’s side set the tone from the opening whistle, with the team captain Harmony Chidi forward opened the scoring within seconds of kickoff, capitalizing on a swift team move to give Nigeria an immediate advantage.
The Flamingos doubled their lead in the 13th minute through a stunning long-range strike that left the Guinean goalkeeper with no chance. Nigeria’s relentless pressing continued to yield dividends, and in the 37th minute, FC Robo Queens forward Oluwakemi Adegbuyi made it 3-0 with a clinical finish.
Chidi completed her hat-trick three minutes later, slotting home a composed finish to cap a dominant first-half display.
The Flamingos carried their intensity into the second half, and their superiority was further underlined in the 56th minute when Mary Dunstan added a fifth to seal an emphatic away win.
Oparanmegwa’s contribution was pivotal in preserving the clean sheet. The defender anchored Nigeria’s backline with poise, organizing the defensive unit and snuffing out any counter-attacking threat from the Guinean side.
Her partnership with the rest of the backline ensured that the Flamingos maintained structural integrity throughout the contest.
The resounding result gives Nigeria a significant advantage ahead of the return leg, scheduled for Saturday, May 31, at the Ikenne-Remo Stars Stadium in Ogun State. A place at the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco now looks firmly within reach.
Speaking after the match, Oparanmegwa pledged to maintain her focus and commitment to the team’s goal.
“I am ready to give my best for the team. Our target is to qualify for the World Cup, and we are determined to make history together.
I appeal to all our supporters to come out in large numbers and cheer us on as we aim to finish the job at home,” she said.
With momentum on their side and a five-goal cushion, the Flamingos will look to complete qualification in front of a home crowd in Ikenne-Remo.
Adexinsight
Comments