Sports
Flamingoes Qualify For Azerbaijan 2012
Nigeria’s U-17 female football team, the Flamingoes have secured their ticket to the FIFA U-17 female world cup scheduled for Azerbaijan later in the year, courtesy of their 7-1 aggregate victory over their Zambian counter parts.
Having won the first leg of the final qualifiers 2-1 airway in Zambia, the Nigerian girls at the weekend at the MKO Abiola Stadium whitewashed the visitors 5-0 in the return leg.
The flamingos seard two goals in the first half and added further three in the second.
Meanwhile, Brazil and Uruguay have become the first two CONMEBOL teams to book their place at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Azerbaijan 2012.
After two rounds of fixtures in the final phase of qualifying from the South American region, both teams have two victories and six points, enough to ensure a spot apiece at the tournament to be played in September and October this year.
Uruguay completed their qualification in style, with top scorer Yamil Bedel claiming all four goals during an historic 4-2 win over Argentina which means a women’s team from Uruguay will feature at a FIFA World Cup for the first time.
Brazil also made it two wins out of two by beating Colombia 3-1 and will face Uruguay in their final match to decide who will be crowned continental champions.
One more finals place is still available, with the winner of the game between Argentina and Colombia joining the top in Azerbaijan. A draw would see Colombia progress due to their superior goal difference.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.
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