Nigeria’s U17 girls, the Flamingos, have intensified their preparations for this weekend’s crucial FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round first leg against Algeria. The match is set to take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo.
The Flamingos, bronze medalists at the 2022 World Cup, have been camping at the Remo Stars Sports Institute under the guidance of Head Coach Bankole Olowookere and his technical team. The squad has remained focused and in high spirits since their dominant performance against South Africa in the previous round, where they recorded a 3-1 win in Pretoria followed by a 2-0 triumph on home soil, securing a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Their upcoming opponents, Algeria, reached this stage after a hard-fought qualifying round against Botswana. Despite a 2-1 defeat in the first leg in Gaborone, the North Africans bounced back with an emphatic 4-0 victory in the return leg to book their place in the final round.
The Algerian delegation is expected to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday evening, ahead of Saturday’s clash. Match officials, led by Ugandan referee Shamirah Nabadda, are due to land in Nigeria on Thursday. Nabadda will be supported by fellow Ugandans Immaculate Ongiera (assistant referee 2) and Diana Murungi (fourth official), while Fides Bangurambona of Burundi will serve as assistant referee 1. Ghana’s Naa Odofoley Nortey has been named match commissioner, with South African Deidre Carmill Zealand as the referee assessor.
The return leg will take place on Friday, 25th April at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida, just outside Algiers. The aggregate winner will qualify for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.
This year’s tournament will be hosted by Morocco from 17 October to 8 November, featuring an expanded 24-nation format. Africa will be represented by five teams, including host nation Morocco.
