Nigeria’s female cadet national team, Flamingos’ current top scorer at the ongoing FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup in Morocco, Oluebube Umejiaku has blown the lid off what she believes is the squad’s biggest asset, which has helped them into the competition’s quarterfinals.
Sports247 reports that, after netting her third goal of the ongoing teenagers’ tourney in Nigeria’s 2-1 round of 16 victory over Mexico on Thursday, ending up as best player of the match in the process, Umejiaku disclosed that playing together as a team has brought them thus far.
A 40th-minute opener from the Heartland Queens FC of Owerri sensation set the Flamingos on the road to victory, as she got on the end of Esther Stephen’s long ball forward, which the Mexican defenders failed to deal with, thereby allowing Umejiaku slam home her third goal in four matches.
The 16-year-old lanky attacker commenced gathering her haul in Nigeria’s first game of the group stage, which they lost 2-1 to Poland, after which she also netted in Nigeria’s historic 3-1 victory over defending champions and back-to-back winners, North Korea.
Before helping end Korea’s 18 match unbeaten run, Umejiaku earlier scored Nigeria’s lone goal in their opening defeat by Poland, following which the Flamingos recovered to beat Puerto Rico 2-0 and Thursday’s 2-1 win over Mexico saw them advance to the quarterfinals.
They are scheduled to face Venezuela on Sunday, with great expectations for another goal from Umejiaku, who is one of several players with three strikes at this championship, but they are all far behind USA’s current top scorer on 12.
Umejiaku retorted in the wake of Thursday’s victory, “I’m so happy. I’m very proud of my team – we’re very good. I love my teammates so much and I love my coach as well. We have a very encouraging spirit, and our togetherness is very important.”
Sports247 reports further that Umejiaku will again be counting on the spirit of sticking together as one family, complemented by her eye for goal, to help the Flamingos pip Venezuela on Sunday and pick a ticket into the semi-finals.
