Afolabi’s exceptional midfield play and her fourth goal of the match earned her the award.
The match saw Nigeria dominate early on, with goals from Shakirat Moshood, Khadijat Adegoke, and Fareedat Abdulwaheed. Afolabi’s strong presence in midfield helped Flamingos maintain control, and her goal in the second half sealed the team’s victory.
The game kicked off with a fast start, as Moshood scored within the first two minutes, setting the tone for Flamingos’ attacking display. Adegoke added a second goal in the 13th minute, demonstrating the team’s offensive strength.
Before the 30-minute mark, Abdulwaheed extended Nigeria’s lead to 3-0 with a perfectly executed lob that caught the New Zealand goalkeeper off guard. In the second half, Afolabi added the fourth goal, further solidifying the Flamingos’ dominance.
New Zealand managed a consolation goal through Hannah Saxon in the 60th minute, but Nigeria’s control of the match never wavered.
In the other group fixture, Ecuador defeated the Dominican Republic 2-0. The Flamingos now look ahead to their next match against Ecuador on Saturday.