Can Flamingoes Fly Again?

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With football loving Nigerians yet to come to terms with the inability of the Falconets to return from the just concluded FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan, where they ended fourth, attention will now shift to their junior counterparts, the Flamingoes.

The Flamingoes will seek to better their quarter final feat achieved at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago when the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup kicks off on 22 September in Azerbaijan.

Flamingoes’ flight to surpass their previous achievement will start on the opening day of the tournament when they confront female football powerhouse, Canada, in Baku and the tie promises to be competitive, going by the achievements of both teams. In the 2010 edition, the Flamingoes soared over Korea DPR 3-2 in their opening match.

Just like in Trinidad and Tobago where their second group game was against the hosts, who the Nigerian ladies struggled to beat the hosts 2-1, same thing will play out again on 25 September, when they attempt to fly past hosts, Azerbaijan. Whether they can replicate same feat this year can’t be said.

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Their last group game would be against another female football powerhouse, the ladies from Colombia but back in 2010, their last group game saw a goal rush as they whitewashed Chile 5-0.

It is also pertinent to note that few of the players that appeared for Nigeria at the last edition were also part of the Falconets team that played at the just concluded Japan 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The duo of Francisca Ordega and Oluchi Ofoegbu for Nigeria at the Trinidad and Tobago edition of the U-17 tournament went on to represent the country at the just concluded Japan 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup. The onus now is on the technical crew to throw up some players that can represent the country in other competitions after playing for the U-17.

—Adebobola Alawode

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