U17 Women’s World Cup: Captain Taiwo Afolabi excited over Flamingos’ flying start

By Saheed Afolabi

Nigeria U17 captain Taiwo Afolabi is thrilled with her team’s commanding performance in their opening match at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, following the Flamingos’ 4-1 victory over New Zealand in Dominican Republic.

The Flamingos’ dominant display at the Cibao Stadium in Santiago sent a strong message to their competitors in the tournament.

Afolabi, who played a pivotal role in the victory, was particularly pleased with her goal—a powerful header in the 55th minute—that sealed the win for Nigeria.

“I feel good and grateful to God for the win. Big kudos to the coaches, the technical crew, and of course, my teammates for the great performance,” she told Nigeriafootball.ng.

Reflecting on her performance, Afolabi was modest, saying, “Well, about my performance, I can’t judge myself unless the coaches tell me my mistakes, but for me, I would say I had a good game.”

The 17-year-old playmaker emphasized that the team’s focus is now on securing victories in their remaining matches and ultimately lifting the trophy. “Winning all our matches, playing in the final, and bringing the trophy back home is our target,” Afolabi said.

She also showed respect for their opponents, adding, “Big respect to New Zealand for the good fight, and I wish them all the best in their remaining matches.”

The Flamingos are now looking ahead to their next fixture, where they will face Ecuador on Saturday, October 19, at the Cibao Stadium.