The South African U17 Women’s National Team has been knocked out of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers after losing 2-0 away to Nigeria in the second leg second round clash, going down 5-2 on aggregate.
The encounter took place on Saturday (15 March) at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, Nigeria.
The visitors had their backs against the wall after losing 1-3 back home in the first leg and needed to score three goals without the hosts replying.
Chidi Harmony, who scored a brace in the first match in Tshwane, came back to haunt the South Africans against with a 37th minute strike to make 4-1 on aggregate, as the game slipped away from Ntombifuthi Khumalo’s charges.
The final nail in the coffin came from Aishat Animashaun in the 56th minute and it was game, set and match as their attempt for a third FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup comes to an end.
Nigeria will face either Botswana or Algeria who will be in action on Sunday (16 March) – the former has a slender 2-1 lead.
In the third and final round of the qualifiers, the Nigerian Flamingos join Ivory Coast, Zambia, Cameroon and Guinea, who have all progressed to the third and final round.
By Matlhomola Morake
