Nigeria’s prolific striker Opeyemi Ajakaiye increased her goal total in the 2017 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup African qualifying series to six when she scored the game’s sole goal in Addis Ababa on Friday afternoon.
Both teams had missed a number of chances in the first half-hour of the last round, first leg match at the Abebe Bekila Stadium, but the lithe forward struck in the 36th minute after being put through by small midfielder Taiwo Afolabi.
Ajakaiye now has a goal in each of the Flamingos’ five qualifying matches, including a hat trick against the Democratic Republic of Congo in a 5-0 thrashing in Benin City.
Omowunmi Bello, who scored three goals in Nigeria’s 6-0 aggregate thrashing of Egypt earlier in the tournament, came close to adding to her tally in the 50th minute, but her 35-yard shot hit the crossbar.
In the second period, Kumneger Kebede, Emush Daniel, and Bethelem Germa all had chances to equalize for the hosts, but they were all denied by a tenacious Nigeria defense and an inspired goalkeeper Faith Omilana.
Both teams will meet again on Saturday, June 4th at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, with the victor qualifying as one of Africa’s three representatives in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in India.
