Nigeria’s national women’s U17 team, the Flamingoes, face an uphill task to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Uruguay after they played out a disappointing 2-2 draw with the Young Lionesses of Cameroon in their first leg, final round qualifier at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

Bala Nkiyu’s team made a bright start to the game inside one minute through Precious Vincent off an assist from Osaretin Ikhekua but the visitors recovered from the early setback to score an eighth minute leveller courtesy Ngah Manga Marie’s strike.

The Cameroonians then went on to stun the home side with a second goal on the stroke of halftime through Florence Fanta for a 2-1 lead at the break.

The Flamingoes regrouped after the interval and deservedly level with nine minutes via a perfectly struck freekick from the aforementioned Ikhekua.

Nigeria thereafter piled on the pressure in search of a third goal but their opponents held on for an impressive result ahead of the second leg in Cameroon in two weeks’ time.