Chidi Harmony once again proved why she is one of Nigeria’s brightest young talents, delivering a stunning performance with two crucial goals to help the Flamingos secure a 3-1 victory over South Africa’s Bantwana in the U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.
The prolific forward, who scored 13 goals in last year’s qualifiers, was at the heart of Nigeria’s attack at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.
After Shakirat Moshood put Nigeria ahead in the 20th minute, Harmony stepped up to double the lead from the penalty spot, displaying her composure under pressure.
South Africa responded with a penalty conversion of their own just after halftime, but Harmony had the final say. In the 68th minute, she capitalized on a defensive lapse, showing her striker’s instinct to fire home and restore Nigeria’s two-goal cushion.
After the game, Harmony reflected on her performance and the team’s victory:
“I always give my best for the team, and today was no different. Scoring twice is great, but the most important thing is the win. We know there’s still work to do in the second leg, and we will be ready.”
With the return leg set for next Saturday at the Remo Stars’ Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, Nigeria is now in a commanding position to advance to the final round of the qualifiers. If they succeed, they will move one step closer to securing a spot at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco later this year.
Chidi Harmony has once again shown that she thrives on the big stage. With her sharp finishing and ability to step up when it matters most, she remains a key figure in Nigeria’s quest for World Cup qualification.
