Flamingoes conquer Sporting Huelva via Chinwe’s Hat-trick…We’re prepared for World Cup, says Nkiyu

Striker Chinwe Ihezuo scored a hat-trick for the Nigeria U17 Women team to edge past tough Spanish Sporting Huelva for a 3-2 victory in an international friendly in Portugal on Wednesday.

The Coach Bala Nkiyu-tutored girls stated their resilience as they pull through for another victory despite their Spanish opponent’s coming back twice at the Browns Hotel Football arena in Faro, Portugal.

The Nigeria contingents continued their impressive run in a 19-day training tour in Portugal ahead of the FIFA U17 women World Cup in Costa Rica from March 15th to April 5th.

Pelican Stars forward Chinwe Ihezuo who was a standout in the encounter put the Nigeria U17 women in front with her breakthrough in the 13th minute and doubled the lead at five minutes from the break.

The Flamingoes’ lead was reduced in the 43rd minute when the Spanish side pulled one back to keep the score line 2-1 at half time in favour of Nigeria.

However, the Spanish visitors powered home the second five minute into the second half through forward Martin Prieto as they held out to deny the Nigerian side any victory.

Disappointingly, Sporting Huelva met their awful moment when the unstoppable Azerbaijan 2012 silver boot winner breezed past the Spanish club side’s defense to secure the much-expected winner and her hat trick of the day.
Speaking after the game, hat–trick scoring hero, Chinwe Ihezuo has reaffirmed her resolve to help the Flamingoes to reach the finals of the Costa Rica U17 FIFA World Cup.

On meeting expectations of Nigerians, the Pelican stars attacker promised that she and her teammates are fully prepared and battle ready to take on any side in the world Championship as a unit.

In his post match reaction, head coach of the Nigeria U17 women; Bala Nkiyu commended the Nigeria women for their resilience, while admitting a tough encounter, however he stated that they are prepared for the World Cup.

“I’m happy with the performance of the ladies. We had a good test against the Spanish club and good account of ourselves – there are many positives although we have some areas we will continue to improve on and get stronger.

“The sixteen teams in the competition won’t field angels or prophets as we are preparing like this. So for the World Cup, I think we are prepared,” Nkiyu said.

Ahead FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup – Flamingoes Tackle Sporting Heulva Today

The female U 17 team (Flamingoes) of Nigeria will trade tackle with Spanish Sporting Heulva U17 women club in an international friendly on Wednesday.

The Nigeria U17 women that were earlier scheduled to play Spanish U17 women national team will do battle with a Spanish age-grade club side at the Browns Hotel Football arena in Faro, Portugal.

The Nigerian contingents are in Portugal to step up preparation for the FIFA U17 women World Cup in Costa Rica from March 15 to April 5.

This is the second tune-up encounter in a 19-day international training tour for the Coach Bala Nkiyu led side.

The game will take place by 5pm Nigerian time

Nigeria’s Flamingoes thrash CDR Quarteirense U14 boys 3-1….Team plays Spain U17 women Wednesday

The Flamingoes continued their impressive build-up towards the FIFA Under-17 women World Cup in Costa Rica with a 3-1 spanking of Portuguese club U-14 boys on Monday.

The Nigeria U17 women who landed in Faro, Portugal on Saturday faced their first tune-up encounter in a 19-day training tour against CDR Quarteirense of Portugal at the Browns Sports football pitch, Faro, Portugal.

The Flamingoes who were still in a buoyant mood following their run of victories in the previous tune-up games, scored twice in the first half and launched the third in the second half, to clip the wings of the Portuguese club’s age-grade boys in Faro.

Goals from Rasidat Ajibade, Cynthia Aku and Agams Nkechinyere established the confident of the Bala Nkiyu led side ahead of the less than a-month oncoming World youth women football championship.

Rasidat Ajibade opening the scoring for the Nigerian ladies in the 18th minute before Cynthia Aku stepped up in the 29th minute to make the inexperience boys pay for their defensive blunders by firing home the second.

In the second half, the Portuguese boys who returned into the half more motivated secured a breakthrough in the 66th minute.
However, the home boys’ expectation of getting something off the game failed to materialize as substituted Agams Nkechinyere’s 78th minute stunner, completed the rout for the Flamingoes to prove superiority at the regulation time.

Speaking after the game, Head Coach of the Nigerian side, Bala Nkiyu expressed delight at the improved play and stressed the readiness of the team for the World Cup in good time.

“We had a great game today (Monday), the ladies are putting in their best and they have really improved with every game. I’m happy with what I’m seeing and am sure we are close to getting the strong team we need to make Nigerians proud in Costa Rica,” Nkiyu said.

In a related development, the Nigeria U17 women will slug it out with their Spanish counterpart by 5pm Nigerian time at the Browns Sports football pitch, Faro, Portugal on Wednesday.

Bala Nkiyu picks 25 for Flamingoes’ Training Tour in Portugal

Head Coach of the Nigeria U17 Women team Bala Nkiyu has picked 25 players for the training tour billed for Faro, Portugal in the final phase of their preparation for the 2014 FIFA U-17 women World Cup in Costa Rica.
A 33-man delegation of the Nigeria U17 national team made up 25 players and 8 officials departed the country’s capital, Abuja by 11pm on Friday, for a training tour of Faro, Portugal aboard on a Lufthansa Airline flight.

Expectedly on board were familiar faces like Captain Biawo Tessy Kesiena, Chinwendu Ihezuo who both starred at the last U17women World Cup in Azerbaijan.

On the list also are Uchenna Kanu, Esther Elijah, Ugochi Emenayo, Aminat Yakubu, Cynthia Aku, Mary Ologbosere, Joy Duru, Joy Bokiri as goalkeeper Onyinyechi Okeke, Ginika Ikeh and Onyebuchi Goodness were not left out by Coach Bala Nkiyu.

The Flamingoes will be involved in an international friendly match with Belgium U17 women team in Brussels on 4th March and other tune-up games with some clubs in Portugal during a 19-day training camp at the Browns Sport and Leisure Club in Faro, Portugal.

The Nigeria U17 women will return to Faro from Brussels and then fly from Madrid, Spain to San Jose, capital of Costa Rica, on 12th March, with their first match of the tournament against China on 16th March.

Nigeria will trade tackle with China, Mexico and Colombia in Group D at the tournament that will be played across four stadiums, three in San Jose and another in Liberia.

The 25-man list is expected at the end of the training tour to be trimmed to 21 for the 4th FIFA U17 Women Finals in Costa Rica, taking place through 15th March – 5th April this year.

FULL PLAYERS LIST

Goalkeepers

Vincent Mercy (Confluence Queens), Okeke Onyinyechi Patience (Inneh Queens), Dike Patience Ndidi (COD United Ladies), Fubiana Briggs (Pelican Stars)

Defenders

Ologbosere Mary Nunumwen (Ibom Angels), Duru Joy Ndidi (Nasarawa Amazons), Emenayo Ugochi Cynthia (Nasarawa Amazons), Elijah Esther Olubunmi (Osun Babes), Mene Augusta Efe (Nasarawa Amazons), Anibaba Ayominde Awawu (FC Robo), Obidiya Alex Faith (Pelican Stars), Chika Edeh (Nasarawa Amazons), Dike Patience Ndidi (COD United Ladies)

Midfielders

Biawo Tessy Kesiena (Delta Queens), ljeh Eluwemunor Desire (Delta Queens), Onyebuchi Ihuoma Goodness (Rivers Angels), Bokiri Joy Ebinemiere (Bayelsa Queens), Ginika Ikeh (Confluence Queens)

Forwards

Aku Cynthia Onyedikachi (Rivers Angels), Ajibade Rashidat Busayo (FC Robo), Chinwendu Veronica Ihezuo (Pelican Stars), Kanu Uchenna Grace (Pelican Stars), Ikechukwu Vivian Obianuju –(COD United ladies), Yakubu Aminat (Rivers Angels), Agams Nkechinyere – (COD United ladies)

Team Officials

Bala Nkiyu (Head Coach), Ann Chiejine (Assistant Coach), Latif Yusuf (Goalkeeper Trainer), Larai Garba (Team Doctor), Amaka Enebe (Physiotherapist), Dupe Oyewale (Team Coordinator), Taiye Abawa (Team Secretary), Jennifer Okoye (Media Officer).

NFF doubles Flamingoes’ win-bonus, allowances

The camp of the U-17 Women National Team, Flamingoes, erupted in joy on Thursday after NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, announced that the Federation had decided to increase their allowances and match bonus by one hundred percent.

While on a visit to the team’s Serob Legacy Hotel, Abuja on Thursday, on his way to a special meeting with CAF President Issa
Hayatou in Cairo, Maigari charged the girls to go all out and do Nigeria proud at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals taking place in Costa Rica from 15th March – 4th April.

“Only yesterday, our dear leader, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR pledged even more support for sportsmen and women vying to bring glory to Nigeria. And as you are also aware, every individual or team that lifted the name of the nation in one way or the other has been honoured by President Jonathan.

“The NFF charges you to concentrate very well and be focused during your final training camp and to pay attention to the instructions of your Coaches. That is the only route to success in Costa Rica. I have faith that after your final training programme, you will be well
prepared to lift the World Cup trophy.”

The Flamingoes are now scheduled to depart Nigeria through Abuja on Friday, 21st February, aboard a Lufthansa Airline flight, for a 19-day training camp at the Browns Sport and Leisure Club in Faro, Portugal.

Already, the Nigeria Football Federation has secured a top grade friendly for the team, with the U-17 Women National Team of Belgium, to be played in Brussels on Tuesday, 4th March. A number of games with some clubs in Portugal are also on the line.

The team will return to Faro from Brussels and then fly from Madrid, Spain to San Jose, capital of Costa Rica, on 12th March, with their first match of the tournament against China on 16th March.

Nigeria female U17 defeats Nasarawa Amazons in Abuja Friendly…….Departs to Faro for Training tour, Friday

With less than a month to the female U-17 World cup in Costa Rica, Nigeria U17 women has intensified preparations with a 2-0 victory over the country’s women league champions, Nasarawa United, in a friendly match in Abuja.
Goals from Uche Kanu and Onyebuchi Goodness in separate halves, handed the Faro-bound girls the victory in the tie, played at the FIFA Goal Project Centre on Wednesday.

The coach Bala Nkiyu led wards through Uche Kanu grabbed the lead in the 7th minute and later saw several attempts on goal off target in the first half with Aminat, Chiwnedu both recording a miss.

However, Nasarawa Amazons failed to find a breakthrough for an equalizer as the resilient Nigeria flamingoes sealed up its defense line. Unfortunately, the HamzaAbdullahi led women lost hope when Onyebuchi Goodness fired home to make it 2-0 for the Flamingoes.

Interestingly, the 2-0 victory over the Amazons became the second victory for the Flamingoes after an earlier 2-1 victory in Lafia during their Federation tour.

Meanwhile, a 34-man delegation of the Nigeria cadet women team made up 25 players and 9 officials are expected to leave the country for a training tour in Faro, Portugal on Friday.