Nigeria’s U17 women’s team, the Flamingos, experienced their first defeat in 11 matches after a thrilling 4-3 loss to New Zealand in Casablanca, according to Soccernet.ng.
This result ended the Flamingos’ impressive 10-game unbeaten run during their warm-up fixtures ahead of the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Despite the loss, coach Bankole Olowookere’s squad displayed attacking flair and resilience that will boost their confidence as they prepare for the upcoming global tournament.
The encounter was a captivating display of fast-paced, end-to-end football.
Nigeria started strongly, applying high pressure and earning an early corner within the first two minutes.
Captain Shakirat Moshood was particularly active in the opening moments, while goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface made a crucial save from a New Zealand free kick to keep the score level.
The Flamingos’ early pressure bore fruit in the 13th minute when Queen Joseph calmly converted a precise through ball to put Nigeria ahead.
New Zealand responded in the 25th minute with Laura Bennett scoring, marking the first goal conceded by Nigeria throughout their entire preparation phase.
Shortly after, the Kiwis had another goal disallowed for offside, but Moshood restored Nigeria’s advantage with a spectacular long-range effort in the 42nd minute, sending the team into halftime with a 2-1 lead.
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New Zealand’s Second-Half Comeback Secures Win Over Nigeria
The second half unfolded with fluctuating momentum and numerous scoring opportunities for both sides.
Queen Joseph came close to extending Nigeria’s lead, but her shot struck the post. This miss proved pivotal as Bennett capitalized, netting her second goal in the 55th minute to level the match at 2-2, then completed her hat-trick in the 74th minute to give New Zealand their first lead of the game.
Nigeria quickly responded through Ayo, who unleashed a powerful strike from outside the penalty area to equalize at 3-3. However, Candy Sienna’s stunning goal in the 80th minute ultimately secured the victory for New Zealand.
In the closing minutes, the Flamingos pushed forward aggressively but were unable to break down a determined New Zealand defense.
This defeat concludes Nigeria’s remarkable unbeaten streak of 10 matches, during which they scored 47 goals and conceded just four.
Looking ahead, the Flamingos will face Paraguay in their final warm-up fixture before relocating to Rabat for their Group D matches against Canada, France, and Samoa. Nigeria’s campaign at the World Cup kicks off on October 19.
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