Flamingos begin U-17 W’Cup campaign

Nigeria U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, will kick off their 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign against New Zealand on Wednesday (today) at the Cibao Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

Nigeria, placed in Group A alongside hosts Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and New Zealand, enters the tournament with high expectations after their impressive third-place finish at the 2022 edition in India.

Head coach Bankole Olowookere, speaking confidently in a recent interview, promised to return home with the elusive trophy. “Our slogan is that we refuse to go back home empty-handed. We must get something back home, whatever it costs,” Olowookere stated.

The Flamingos rounded off their 10-day intensive camp in Santiago with a 1-1 draw against Mexico in a friendly match on October 8, a game the gaffer described as an eye-opener, which helped the team overcome an inferiority complex and a bit of a fear factor.

Nigeria’s squad boasts a mix of experienced players and young talents from clubs across the country, including Delta Queens, Imo Strikers, and Rivers Angels.

Harmony Chidi, who idolises Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, is expected to be one of Nigeria’s key players, having scored 12 goals in the qualifiers.

New Zealand, under head coach Alana Gunn, will be looking to improve on their last encounter with Nigeria at the 2022 World Cup, where they suffered a 4-0 defeat. The Kiwis’ squad includes prolific striker Laura Bennett, who won the Golden Boot at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship.

Nigeria have participated in every edition of the competition since its inception in 2008, reaching the quarterfinals in 2010, 2012, and 2014. They broke this jinx in the 2022 edition by defeating the USA in the quarterfinals.

After the opening game, the Flamingos will face hosts Ecuador on October 19 and Dominican Republic on October 22 as they push for qualification to the knockout stages.

Olowookere has urged Nigerians to keep supporting the team, saying, “Just believe in us; we are going to make you happy, and we are going to bring something back home.”