2024 Fifa U17 Women's World Cup: Five observations from Flamingos 1-0 win over Dominican Republic

Nigeria claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Dominican Republic on Wednesday morning.

Shakirat Moshood's long-range effort in the 89th minute gave Nigeria the victory at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez.

The win secured Nigeria's spot in the knockout stage, maintaining a perfect record of three wins from three games.

Nigeria will look to build on this victory and continue their momentum in the upcoming knockout rounds of the tournament.

Allnigeriasoccer.com presents five observations from the game.

Coach Bankole Makes Three Changes as Nigeria Qualifies for Knockout Stage

Nigeria had already secured qualification to the knockout stage of the tournament prior to their match against host Dominican Republic on Wednesday morning.

The Flamingos sealed their spot with victories over New Zealand and Ecuador in the opening two games.

Ahead of the clash, Coach Bankole made three changes to the previous lineup.

Ramotalahi Kareem, Blessing Ifitezue, and Rokibat Azeez came in to replace Peace Effiong, Harmony Chidi, and Oonyedikachi Ekezie.

Dominican Republic Demonstrates Impressive Defensive Performance

The Dominican Republic showcased a solid defensive strategy to neutralize the attacking threat of the Flamingos.

The host team implemented a low-block defensive tactic that restricted Nigeria's space and time in the final third, making it challenging for their forwards to make an impact on the game.

As a result, Nigeria resorted to numerous long-range efforts on goal due to the difficulty in breaking down the resilient Dominican Republic defense.

Too Many Long Range Shots

Nigeria found it challenging to break through the compact and resilient defense of the host team during the game.

Dominican Republic executed their defensive tactics effectively, forcing Nigeria into making hurried decisions in their quest for a breakthrough.

In search of a way to score, Nigeria heavily relied on long-range shots that unfortunately did not produce any fruitful results, until the goal.

In the first half alone, the Flamingos attempted a total of 16 shots on goal without managing to find the back of the net.

Shakirat Moshood Continues Scoring Streak

Shakirat Moshood has emerged as a standout player in the tournament, showcasing exceptional form with her consistent goal-scoring abilities.

The talented midfielder has found the back of the net in each of Nigeria's three matches so far, netting goals against New Zealand, Ecuador, and scoring the lone goal against Dominican Republic on Wednesday.

Moshood's remarkable performances make her a vital asset to the team, as the Flamingos look to secure the title in the upcoming knockout phase with her influential presence on the field.

Chidi Harmony and Peace Effiong Impact From the Bench

The game took a different turn after the introduction of Peace Effiong and Harmony Chidi.

Despite struggling to break down the host team for over an hour, Coach Bankole's decision to bring on Effiong and Chidi injected new energy into the Flamingos' attack.

Their presence on the field brought a renewed sense of vigor, speed, and fluidity, which ultimately helped Nigeria overcome the resilient defensive approach of the opposition.

This change in dynamics led to Shakirat Moshood's long-range goal, breaking the deadlock and securing Nigeria's important victory.

Adeyemi Adewale

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com