The Flamingoes of Nigeria extended their unbeaten run in their build-up for the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women World Cup Finals in Costa Rica after they played out a goalless draw against their Belgium counterparts in an international friendly match in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday.
The Nigerian girls who had tough game against the Belgian side failed to get a goal for the first time in their last nine high-profile friendly matches at the Alles Des Sports Stadium.
The game came days after the Nigerian girls ran riot in a rout of Clube Benfica in Lisbon, with a brace from Cynthia Aku and individual efforts from Rasheedat Ajibade and Chinwendu Ihezuo.
Coach Bala Nikyu started the high-profile friendly with some of his best legs who masterminded the victory in Sunday’s encounter with Benfica on the bench in bid to engage all the players.
Both halves were fascinating as many had expected another goal feast for the free-scoring West African side as all attempts put up met the rock in an encounter that looked not their day.
Belgium’s U-17 girls also made several attempts to register a goal against the Nigerian side but met a brick wall in the defence line manned by Ologbosere Mary, Emenayo Ugochi Anibaba Ayominde and Mene Augusta.
The African representatives have recorded three wins and a draw in four warm-up games.
Speaking after the game, substitute striker Chinwe Ihezuo assured Nigerians she and her teammates would record success in Costa Rica and make them proud by winning all their matches after squandering chances as well as blaming his side’s inability to score against the Belgian team on anxiety and inclement weather.
“We played a good side, but today’s game was hard luck for us. We did very well though we were too anxious to score and missed many chances. The weather was not too friendly as it was very cold and did affect our performance. We are assuring Nigerians that we will not only participate at the Finals, but also do our possible best to win all our matches and make them proud in Costa Rica,” Chinwe assured.
The Nigeria U-17 women will play China on March 16 in their opening match of the World cadet tournament in Costa Rica scheduled to hold from March 15 to April 4.
