Photo Credit: Pedro Vilela – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
A solid second-half performance wasn’t enough for New Zealand to avoid defeat in their opening match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024™ in Dominican Republic, as they lost 4-1 to Nigeria.
Alana Gunn’s side qualified by virtue of their successful OFC U-16 Women’s Championship campaign last year in Tahiti, where a stoppage time Katie Pugh goal saw them overcome Fiji in the final.
The challenge on the world stage for the Kiwis was also going to be tough, and they felt the full force of Nigeria early on, when Shakirat Moshood gave her side the lead in the second minute.
A little over ten minutes later and the lead was doubled, when Khadijat Adegoke’s tame effort from distance was spilled by goalkeeper Brooke Neary, who couldn’t recover in time to prevent the ball crossing the line.
New Zealand were struggling to establish an element of control and found themselves 3-0 down just before the half hour mark. A corner kick played to the edge of the area found Faridat Abdulwahab and she expertly curled an effort over Neary and into the far corner.
The second period was a far more even affair, with New Zealand lifting their performance following a difficult opening fourty-five minutes.
Nigeria added a fourth ten minutes after the restart thanks to Taiwo Afolabi’s excellent header before Hannah Saxon pulled one back just five minutes later – the midfielder turning well in the box following a Ela Jerez corner and firing into the far corner.
New Zealand will now look to bounce back when they face hosts Dominican Republic in three days time before completing their group stage campaign against Ecuador on October 23.
New Zealand: 1 (Hannah SAXON 60’)
Nigeria: 4 (Shakirat MOSHOOD 2’, Khadijat ADEGOKE 13’, Faridat ABDULWAHAB 28’, Taiwo AFOLABI 55’)
HT: 4-0