Nigeria's Flamingos zoom into World Cup QF with victory over Chile

• Nigeria women's U17 national team booked their place in the quarterfinals of the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup
• They defeated Chile 2-1 at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, on Friday.

After one win and one defeat each in their previous games, both teams needed victory to advance in the competition.

It was, however, the West Africans who did just enough to continue their adventure at India 2022.

The Flamingos enjoyed a brilliant start against the South Americans and opened the scoring after only four minutes inside the Kalinga Stadium.

Stand-in captain, Blessing Emmanuel turned the ball into the net to fire Nigeria in front following an assist from livewire forward, Opeyemi Ajakaye.

The Africans continued to push forward to add another goal and their superiority was clear with five corners within the opening 20 minutes.

But the Flamingos could not add to their one-goal advantage before the referee called time on the half.

Chile threatened briefly after the restart but Bustamante Paloma sent her effort wide.

The Nigerian girls were stung back to life with that chance and had a penalty appeal waved off by the referee despite a foul on Ajakaye inside the box by the Chileans.

Tons of goalscoring chances followed for the Flamingos with the clearest of the chances falling to Amina Bello, but Chile goalkeeper Alvarado made a fine stop.

Shortly after, Ajakaye saw her brilliant effort crash off the crossbar.

The constant pressure finally yielded fruit for Nigeria, as Bisola Mosaku doubled the advantage for the Flamingos in the 82nd minute.

Chile, however, reduced the deficit from the penalty spot four minutes later after the referee spotted a handball in the Nigerian box.

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