NIGERIA have dispatched Ecuador in a Group A match at the FIFA U-17 World Cup to book their spot in the quarterfinals of the competition.
The Flamingos won the game 4-0. That victory sealed their spot in the next round of the competition having defeated New Zealand 1-4 in their first match of the tournament.
Nigeria scored once in the first half and had a hat-trick of goals upon resumption to win the game.
A brace from Shakirat Moshood – one in the 28th minute and the second in the 96th minute- saw Nigeria claim all three points in the match.
Harmony Chidi netted in the 54th minute while Peace Effiong scored in the 66 minute for the West Africans.
The Nigerians kept their opponents constantly on the defensive and could have easily doubled the score, having taken 31 shots with 13 on target.
Nigeria are expected to claim a straightforward victory when they face the Dominican Republic in their final group game at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo, on Wednesday.
The Flamingos finished third in the last edition in India and have participated in every edition of the competition since its inception in 2008, reaching the quarter-finals in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
They broke their quarter-final jinx in the 2022 edition, defeating the USA to reach their first-ever semi-finals.
This newspaper reported that the team defeated New Zealand 4-1 in their tournament opener.
