Ajakaye’s strike gives Flamingos first leg advantage over Ethiopia in World Cup qualifiers

Opeyemi Ajakaye was the heroine for Nigeria’s Under-17 female team, Flamingos, as her 36th-minute goal was enough to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.

The Flamingos traveled to Addis Ababa in the first leg of the India 2022 Under-17 Female World Cup qualifier.

The Nigerians looked threatening from the beginning, with chances falling to Opeyemi Ajakaye and Rahemot Adebayo. However, the Ethiopian goalkeeper managed to keep all the shots out.

Nonetheless, the Nigerians got their breakthrough in the 36th minute, as Ajakaye got on the end of a through pass from Taiwo Afolabi and slotted in coolly to give Nigeria a one-goal lead.

The Ethiopians looked more purposeful and dangerous in the second, but it amounted to naught as the Flamingos kept a solid defensive line.

Nigeria held out for the one-goal victory, and they have the advantage ahead of the second leg slated for the National Stadium, Abuja, on June 4th.