U17 WWCQ Burkina Faso 1 Nigeria 1: Chidi Harmony on target as Flamingos are held by Burkinabes

Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the third round of the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup qualifier held at the Stade du 26 Mar, Bamako on Saturday evening.

The Flamingos started the game on the front foot with Chidi Harmony coming close to finding the back of the net in the 16th minute but her effort was ruled out for offside.

In the 23rd minute, Taiwo Afolabi tried her luck from distance but her effort was saved by the Burkina Faso shot-stopper comfortably.

Five minutes later, Afolabi got another opportunity to open the scoring from a free-kick but it was parried away by the goalkeeper.

Nwachukwu Prisca fired a shot in the 31st minute but was denied once again by the goalkeeper with the rebound falling into the feet of Afolabi who couldn't make the most of it. 

Four minutes before halftime, Harmony came close to scoring but the hardworking Burkinabe glovesman denied her from putting the away side ahead.

The Flamingos finally got the breakthrough in the 55th minute with Harmony finally putting a chance away to put her side ahead.

Right on the hour mark, Bankole Olowokoore made his first change with Effiong Peace coming off for Ayantosho Yetunde.

In the 80th minute, Harmony got the chance to double the scoring after dribbling past three defenders but she fired her effort wide.

Burkina Faso restored parity in the 84th minute through Rainata Oubda after a defensive blunder by the Nigeria U17s.

Moshood Shakirat came close to restoring Nigeria the lead in the stoppage time but was denied by the Burkinabe shot-stopper.

The result means the Flamigos will now have to beat Burkina Faso in the return leg next Saturday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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