Costa Rica 2014: Flamingoes wallop Black Maidens in friendly

The visiting team left the Ghanaian federation with many questions about their readiness for the World Cup after being thrashed by Nigeria’s female cadet team in a warm up

Nigeria U17 Women emphasized their readiness for the 2014 FIFA U17 World Cup in Costa Rica after thrashing Ghana 3-0 in an international friendly at the FIFA Goal Project Centre in Abuja on Sunday.
Goals from Mary Ologbosere, Chiwendu Ihezuo and Yakubu Aminat ensured that coach Bala Nkiyu's wards secured a gallant win over the Black Maidens.
Sensational right-back Mary Ologbosere powered home a 25-metre bullet for an opener to hand Flamingoes the lead with just three minutes into the encounter.
Despite the early lead for Nigeria, Evans Adotey's Ghanaian side posted a nice stunner, forcing Flamingoes goalkeeper Okeke Onyinyechukwu to deny Kuzagbe Vinoria early on.
Nigeria’s free-scoring lanky striker Chiwendu Ihezuo fired home the second in style after receiving a through ball from Uche Kalu to clinch her fourth goal in five matches in the 77^th minute.
However, the Ghanaians resumed the second half stronger than the first but failed to find a goal despite posing lot of threats failed to secure a breakthrough against the well composed defence of Nigeria in their chase for a comeback.
The troubled defence of the Black Maidens were left devastated after their goalkeeper hacked down Ikechukwu Vivian in the goal area, an act that handed Nigeria a penalty, which was then converted to goal by Yakubu Aminat for a Flamingoes’ victory.
The return fixture of the two-leg international friendly is scheduled for Sunday, 9^th February and would be played at the Accra Sports Stadium in Ghana.

Nigeria, Ghana and Zambia have qualified as African representatives to the 4th FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup that will take place in Costa Rica between March 15 and April 4.