Nigeria’s Flamingos Suffer First Defeat in 11 Games, Lose 4-3 to New Zealand

Nigeria’s Flamingos Suffer First Defeat in 11 Games, Lose 4-3 to New Zealand

The Nigeria U-17 women’s team, affectionately known as the Flamingos, has suffered its first loss in 11 warm-up games, going down 4-3 to New Zealand in a thrilling friendly match in Casablanca. Despite the defeat, the Flamingos’ performance will have boosted their confidence ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The match was a pulsating encounter, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Nigeria dominated the early exchanges, with captain Shakirat Moshood looking lively. The team’s pressure paid off in the 13th minute when Queen Joseph scored with a calm finish after receiving a precise through ball. However, New Zealand leveled the score in the 25th minute through Laura Bennett, who would later complete a hat-trick to put her team ahead.

Moshood was a standout player for Nigeria, scoring a stunning long-range strike in the 42nd minute to give the Flamingos a 2-1 lead at halftime. Despite the defeat, her performance will have given her teammates confidence as they prepare for the World Cup.

The Flamingos will now focus on fine-tuning their skills ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. With their attacking brilliance on display, they will be looking to make a strong impression on the global stage .