Morocco 2025: Flamingos head to South Africa on Wednesday
Nigeria’s U-17 girls, the Flamingos, will fly out of the country on Wednesday to South Africa for the first leg of their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against South Africa’s U-17 girls, known as Bantwana.
The match, for which the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has selected Kenyan officials to oversee, will kick off at 3 p.m. South Africa time (2 p.m. Nigeria time) on Saturday, 8th March, at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital.
Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has selected 19 players for the encounter, including goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, defenders Hannah Ibrahim and Jumai Adebayo, midfielders Shakirat Moshood and Muinat Rotimi, as well as forwards Harmony Chidi and Chisom Nwachukwu.
While Nigeria, the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup bronze medallists, received a bye to the second round, Bantwana crushed their counterparts from Gabon 21-2 on aggregate to advance.
CAF has appointed Josephine Wanjiku as referee, with her compatriots Mary Njoroge, Elizabeth Njoroge, and Juma Lucy Awino serving as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2, and fourth official, respectively.
Cindy Barbara Dludlu from Eswatini will be the match commissioner, while Moroccan Khadija Rezzag has been assigned the role of referee assessor.
Both teams will face off again in the return leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday, 15th March, with the winner on aggregate progressing to the third round of the qualification campaign.
This year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Morocco from 17th October to 8th November, with Africa presenting five teams (including host nation Morocco) at the finals. The tournament has been expanded to a 24-nation championship.
Nigeria’s 19-Player Squad for the Qualifier:
Goalkeepers: Christiana Uzoma, Onyinyechi Opara
Defenders: Hannah Ibrahim, Jumai Adebayo, Temilade Fafore, Shavih Istifanus, Taiwo Adegoke
Midfielders: Shakirat Moshood, Muinat Rotimi, Azeezat Oduntan, Philomena Ochanya, Aishat Animashaun
Forwards: Elizabeth Boniface, Queen Joseph, Olamide Olanrewaju, Chisom Nwachukwu, Harmony Chidi, Favour Iheagwaram, Christiana Sunday
