Nigeria’s U17 women’s team the Flamingoes played out a 1-1 draw away to their Ethiopian counterparts in Addis Ababa in the first leg of their qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Sunday.
The 2018 World Cup will be hosted by Uruguay.
Joy Jerry gave Nigeria an 18th minute lead but parity was restored three minutes after the hour mark when Tarikow Debiso scored for the hosts.
The second leg will be played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Saturday, December 16, with the winners on aggregate advancing to the final round of qualifiers scheduled for February 2018.
Nigeria has featured at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals five times, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016.
President of Argentina Football Association, Claudio Tapir, hopes a recall for Juventus striker, Gonzalo Higuain, will help the team conquer Nigeria and the other teams in Group D at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, reports Completesportsnigeria.com.
Higuain who has been in fantastic form for Juventus in the Italian League this season is yet to feature for La Albiceleste under Coach Jorge Sampaoli.
With the team placed in a tricky group that also has Croatia and newcomers Iceland, Tapia is banking on Higuain to help the team do well in Russia.
“I have no doubt that (Jorge) Sampaoli is going to call (Gonzalo) Higuain,” Tapia told TyCSports.com.
“Obviously, the best thing is to arrive at the World Cup with a well oiled team, but I am sure Higuain will make the final squad for the competition.”
Argentina’s last defeat came against Nigeria, a 4-2 defeat, in an international friendly in Krasnodar last month, Tapia attributed the defeat to the withdrawal of Sergio Aguero at half time due to concussion.
“We have the opportunity of facing Nigeria again which is good after they beat us 4-2 in a friendly game. I think everything changed that day when Aguero was substituted.”
