Nigeria, Colombia fight for 1/4-final slots

The Flamingoes will engage their Colombian counterparts this afternoon at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in
Baku in the last group match at the ongoing FIFA Under-17 Women World Cup holding in Azerbaijan. The Nigerian team needs a draw to berth in the quarterfinals, while the Colombian side must win to book a
place among the last eight teams at the third edition of the championship. Nigeria and Canada have four points each after two matches, but the Flamingoes currently top Group A
courtesy of their superior goal difference of +12, as against Canada’s +1. Colombia is third with three points, while the host, Azerbaijan, occupies the rear having lost its two
previous matches, including Tuesday’s scandalous 11-0 defeat by the Flamingoes. If the results of the matches played so far are anything to go by, then the Flamingoes should record
another victory today. However, the Colombian side is expected to throw everything into the fray to win the encounter and join the
Canadian team that is tipped to easily beat the weeping team, Azerbaijan, to claim one of the available two
tickets from the group for the quarterfinals. Prominent among the players expected to fire Nigeria into the round of eight include striker Chinwendu
Ihezuo, who scored five goals and made three assists in Tuesday’s 11-0 demolition of Azerbaijan, to
emerge the Man-of-the-Match. Ihezuo had earlier rescued Nigeria with a point in the 1-1 draw against Canada in the first group match after
Canada had taken the lead in the early minutes of the game. Other players expected to ensure Nigeria’s passage to the quarterfinals include Halimat Ayinde, who
scored twice against Azerbaijan, Effiom, Tessy Biahwo and Joy Bokiri, all who got on the scorers’ sheet
against Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Coach Peter Dedevbo has assured Nigerians that the Flamingoes would neither underrate the
Colombian side nor allow the comprehensive victory against Azerbaijan to get into their heads. Dedevbo said: “When we arrived in Azerbaijan for the tournament, I told my girls not to underrate any team.
This could be seen in the way we approached each of our matches so far. “I thank God and my girls for the victory, but we will not let this get into our heads. We will continue to
apply the same approach to every game.”