Nigeria 3-2 Paraguay: Yahaya hits hat-trick as Flamingos score 50th goal in pre-World Cup thriller

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, wrapped up their pre-World Cup preparations in emphatic fashion with a 3–2 victory over Paraguay in Casablanca on Tuesday evening, Soccernet.ng reports.

It was a thrilling contest filled with energy, precision, and valuable lessons, as the young Nigerians signed off their Morocco training camp on a winning note.

Having suffered a narrow 4–3 defeat to New Zealand days earlier, the Flamingos showed real character to bounce back.

The Nigerian girls took control from the start, scoring inside two minutes through Mariam Yahaya. The forward finished brilliantly after captain Shakirat Moshood’s neat lay-off, following a long ball from goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface.

The early goal settled nerves, but Paraguay soon hit back. A defensive lapse by Christiana Sunday gifted the South Americans an equaliser in the 15th minute, shifting momentum briefly. Boniface produced two fine saves to deny further damage before the Flamingos regained composure and rhythm.

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Just before halftime, Nigeria’s attacking pressure paid off. Yahaya capitalised on another defensive mistake to restore the lead in the 44th minute, then completed her first-half hat-trick a minute later with a superb finish from Kaosarat Olanrewaju’s clever through pass.

The second half saw Nigeria control proceedings with confidence. Moshood and Ayomide Abubakar came close to adding a fourth, while substitute goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu pulled off a vital save in the 69th minute to keep the scoreline intact. Paraguay found a late consolation after another lapse at the back, but it was too little, too late.

That victory is the Flamingos’ 12th warm-up match, taking their total to 50 goals scored and just six conceded during preparations

With their camp in Morocco now concluded, the team will head to Rabat on Wednesday to settle into their FIFA accommodation ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which begins on October 17.

Nigeria are drawn in Group D alongside Canada, France, and Samoa, opening their campaign against the Canadians on October 19.

Coach Bankole Olowookere’s side may not have lifted the World Cup before, but with their current form and Yahaya’s red-hot finishing, the Flamingos look poised to make a serious challenge for history in Morocco.