Red hot Flaminges round up Faro training with ruthless win, team battle ready for Belgium

Nigeria U17 women beat Clube Futebol Benfica 5-1 to conclude their tour of Faro on Sunday.

The African side played three friendly games in Portugal and won all the matches. They netted 11 goals in the process.

Forward Chinwendu Ihezuo was the player of the moment with four goals over two games in Faro, with the hardworking striker reminding the world of her ambition to win the Golden Boot of Costa Rica 2014.

Clube Futebol Benfica came out, refusing to move past midfield as the Nigerians passed around at the back.

Flamingoes came out energized, and the team nipped the first goal in the seventh minute from the foot of Pelican Stars ace Uche Kalu. Right-winger, Aminat Yakubu, a player on the books of Rivers Angels skipped past a tackle to start the move, and she shuffled it off to a streaking Uche, who stepped through a tackle, past a defender and blasted home from about 15 yards.

Uche, delivered what looked like the second in the 17th minute, but the match referee ruled the good move from the Flamingoes as offside.

FC Robo attacking midfielder Rashidat Ajibade doubled the U17 side's lead when she scored from a rebound on the stroke of 45 minutes.

A brace from Ugochi Cynthia and one from the Drogba of Women Football, Chinwendu Ihezuo completed a 5-1 rout.

“It feels amazing to win the friendlies,” Chinwendu said. “We as a team, everybody feels so good about it. It’s the time to take responsibility and reward our loyal fans back home.”

“They were smart (about) when to try to build in quick combination play but also times to maybe play in behind the back four,” Ajibade said. “There was a good balance, so we were able to get at them.”

“I was very happy because we played extremely well over the three games,” Uche said in Faro.

“But I thought over the three games we were the best team here, so I’m very happy for the team, and I’m very happy that we played three good sides and did very well.”

The Nigeria U17 women would round up their preparation for Costa Rica 2014 with a trip to face their Belgium counterparts in Brussels on Tuesday.

According to sources close to futbalgalore.blogspot.com, the technical crew led by former FRSC FC boss, Bala Nkiyu is expected to name the final 21-player squad after the Belgium clash.

The 4th FIFA U17 Women Finals in Costa Rica, would take place between 15th March - 5th April this year.

Nigeria have tough women football playing nations like China, Mexico and Colombia to compete with in Group D.