By Paul
Opeyemi Ajakaye of the Flamingos completed the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a bang after being named the Most Valuable Player of the game between Nigeria and Germany in the competition’s third place game in India.
Ajakaye led the Flamingos in scoring throughout the qualifications with six goals, but she didn’t score her first World Cup goal until the third-place game against Germany in a penalty shootout.
Through critical goal assists and spot on decision making, the FC Robo Queens striker altered her game in India and played another significant role in ensuring the 2022 Flamingos established a milestone as the first cadet side to win a medal for Nigeria’s Under 17 Women’s squad.
For the third time in this tournament, she was named the best player on the field. She got the same honour in the Flamingos’ games against New Zealand and Chile.
Ajakaye led the Flamingos to bronze, scoring once in regular time and again in the penalty shootout to guarantee Nigeria equaled the record established by Ghana’s Black Maidens in Azerbaijan in 2012.
