Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, affectionately known as the Flamingos, concluded their rigorous pre-World Cup preparations with a compelling 3-2 triumph over Paraguay in Casablanca. This victory marked the successful culmination of their training camp in Morocco, where the young Nigerian squad demonstrated remarkable character and resilience. Coming off a narrow 4-3 loss to New Zealand just days prior, the Flamingos showcased their ability to rebound, ending their preparatory phase on a high note.

The match against Paraguay was a testament to the team's energy and precision. The Flamingos asserted their dominance early, with Mariam Yahaya opening the scoring within two minutes. Her brilliant finish was set up by captain Shakirat Moshood's neat lay-off, following a well-executed long ball from goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface. Despite this early lead, a defensive lapse from Christiana Sunday allowed Paraguay to equalize in the 15th minute, momentarily shifting the game's momentum. However, Boniface proved her worth with two crucial saves, preventing further damage and allowing Nigeria to regain their composure and rhythm.

As the first half neared its close, Nigeria’s persistent attacking pressure yielded significant results. Mariam Yahaya once again capitalized on a defensive error to restore Nigeria's lead in the 44th minute. Showing exceptional form, she completed her first-half hat-trick just a minute later, converting a superb finish orchestrated by Kaosarat Olanrewaju’s clever through pass. This rapid succession of goals put the Flamingos firmly in control heading into the break.

The second half saw the Nigerian girls confidently manage proceedings, maintaining their lead with composure. Opportunities for a fourth goal arose, with Shakirat Moshood and Ayomide Abubakar both coming close. Substitute goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu also made a vital save in the 69th minute, ensuring the scoreline remained intact. While Paraguay managed to find a late consolation goal due to another defensive lapse, it proved to be too little, too late to alter the outcome of the match.

This impressive victory over Paraguay was the Flamingos' twelfth warm-up match, reflecting an intensive and productive preparation phase. Throughout their preparatory games, the team has amassed an impressive record, scoring a total of 50 goals while conceding a mere six. With their training camp in Morocco now successfully concluded, the squad is set to travel to Rabat on Wednesday to settle into their FIFA accommodation, ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to commence on October 17.

Nigeria has been drawn into Group D for the World Cup, where they will face formidable opponents including Canada, France, and Samoa. Their campaign is slated to begin on October 19 with their opening match against Canada. Under the guidance of Coach Bankole Olowookere, and with their current robust form coupled with Mariam Yahaya's red-hot finishing ability, the Flamingos appear exceptionally well-prepared and poised to mount a serious challenge for historical success in Morocco, aiming to lift the coveted World Cup trophy for the first time.