By Onyekachi Chimezie
Flamingos forward Opeyemi Ajakaye has been named the player of the match after her Impressive display against tournament’s debutant Chile on Monday afternoon.
Nigeria sealed her knockout stage entry after beating Chile 2-1 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar City to clinch a quarter-final spot.
The 16-year-old Lagos State Football Association Most Valuable Player (MVP) who made the assist for the first goal has now won the award for the second game running after having earlier won it the last time out against New Zealand said she is delighted with the award and the team’s quarter-finals qualification.
“Happy to have received the player of the match award against Chile! Even happier to have qualified for the knockout stage!!
OPE LO YEMI! 🙏🏿❤️🇳🇬⚽️⭐️,” wrote in a post on her twitter handle.
Emmanuel Blessing gave the 2014 FIFA U-17 women’s world cup quarter-finalist Nigeria the lead with four minutes on the clock while 15-year-old Bisola Mosaku doubled Flamingos’s advantage in the 82nd minute.
Tali Rovner pulled one back for the Chileans from the penalty spot after Omamuna Edefe handled the ball in her box in the 90th minute.
Coach Olowookere Bankole’s team will represent Nigeria U-17 women team in the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the fourth time since the tournament’s inception.
The Flamingos have made it to the knockout stages in 2010, 2012 and 2014 while 2016 was the last time they failed to make it to the last eight.
