The Nigeria women U-17 team, the Flamingos, against all odds secured their passage into the last 16 of the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco after a dominant performance against free-scoring North Korea in their final group game played on Friday.

After starting the tournament with a 2-1 loss against Poland, the Nigerian girls bounced back with a 2-0 defeat of the whipping team of the group, Puerto Rico, while North Korea scored 12 goals in their first two games against Puerto Rico and Poland while conceding just a goal as they secured the maximum six points going to the game with Nigeria.

With anything short of a win likely putting an end to Nigeria participation in Morocco, the girls put on their A game in a dominant performance against the North Korea side, leading the first half with two goals.

Goals from Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and Olue- bube Umejiaku in the 15th and 38th minute respectively gifted Nigeria a 2-0 advantage going into the second half before Kanyinsola Yusuf sealed the win with the third goal in the 56th minute.

The defending champions of the tournament however managed to score a consolation goal by forward YU Jong Hyang (82′) towards the end of the highly explosive encounter.

Poland on the other hand defeated Puerto Rico 6-2 as the top three teams in Group B finished with six points each with Nigeria finishing second behind North Korea with plus three goals advantage as against Poland’s zero goal advantage.