Nigeria
registered a demoralising 11-0 victory over FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
hosts Azerbiajan, seeing them eliminated, with Chinwendu Ihezuo playing
a part in eight of them.
Right from the
off the game was being played almost exclusively in the hosts’ half, so
it was little surprise when the first goal came. Chinwendu Ihezuo
capitalising after Madel Effiom’s cross cannoned fortuitously off the
bar to tap in from a yard out.
Three
minutes later it was 2-0, Oluchi Ofoebu squaring from inside the box to
see Halimatu Ayinde squeeze her first under Aytaj Sharifova.
It was clear the hosts couldn’t handle Nigeria’s
pace or physicality, and a third came when Effiom once again crossed
for Ihezuo, who laid the ball off for Tessy Biahwo to fire from the edge
of the box.
Ayinde then made one and scored her second, lay the first on for Aminat Yakubu before Ihezuo turned provide.
Ihezuo
then doubled own tally, Yakubu crossing for her to put in at the far
post. Ayinde missed the chance to complete her hat-trick when missing an
untended goal, but her pass on 37 minutes saw Ihezuo complete hers.
Nigar Jalilli had two chances to score for the hosts, one drawing a fantastic save from an otherwise unworked Gift Andy.
The
tune didn’t change after half-time, Ihezuo netting her fourth after
Ebere Okoye’s neat through-ball. Substitute Joy Bokiri then got in on
the act, converting Ayinde’s cross.
Ihezuo
got her fifth, rising to head Biahwo’s deep free-kick, before roles
reversed as the midfielder curled an effort into the bottom corner for
the final goal.
