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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Ayane to lead Morocco challenge at women’s World Cup

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Women's Super League - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - February 12, 2023 Tottenham Hotspur's Rosella Ayane in action with Manchester United's Millie Turner Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs/File Photo

Morocco have included Tottenham Hotspur forward Rosella Ayane in their final squad for the women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, one of 14 overseas-based players selected by coach Reynald Pedros.

Ayane, who was born in England, was a leading figure in helping Morocco to the silver medal at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where the country earned their maiden qualification for the World Cup.

The majority of that team has been retained, with influential captain Ghizlane Chebbak one of seven players from Moroccan club Association Sportive des Forces Armées Royales (AS FAR), who are the holders of the African Women’s Champions League title.

Pedros, who has enjoyed Champions League success with Olympique Lyonnais, has also called on Napoli defender Sabah Seghir, Metz forward Salma Amani and Nantes striker Kenza Chapelle

Morocco have been drawn in Group H at the World Cup and will open their campaign against Germany on July 24. They meet South Korea six days later and finish their pool fixtures against Colombia on Aug. 3.

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Morocco squad:

Goalkeepers: Ines Arouaissa (AS Cannes, France), Khadija Errmichi (AS FAR), Assia Zouhair (SCCM)

 

Defenders: Hanane Ait El Haj, Nouhaila Benzina, Zineb Redouani (all AS FAR), Nesryne El Chad (Lille, France), Rkia Mazrouai (Sporting Charleroi, Belgium), Yasmin Mrabet (Levante, Spain), Sabah Seghir (Napoli, Italy)

 

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Midfielders: Ghizlane Chebbak, Najat Badri (both AS FAR), Anissa Lahmari (Guingamp, France), Sarah Kassi (Fleury, France), Elodie Nakkach (Servette, Switzerland)

Forwards: Salma Amani (Metz, France), Rosella Ayane (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Sofia Bouftini (RS Berkane), Kenza Chapelle (Nantes, France), Fatima Gharbi (CE Europa, Spain), Ibtissam Jraidi (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Sakina Ouzraoui Diki (Club Brugges, Belgium), Fatima Tagnaout (AS FAR).

-Reuters

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Flamingos Set for Morocco 2025 as Nigeria’s U-17s Depart Abuja for Final World Cup Preparations

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Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, will depart Abuja in the early hours of Wednesday, October 8, as they begin the final leg of preparations for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup scheduled to take place in Morocco.

The team will travel aboard Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca, Morocco’s industrial and economic hub, where they will set up camp ahead of the tournament.

During their stay in Casablanca, the Flamingos will step up their build-up programme with two high-profile international friendlies — first against New Zealand on October 10, and then Paraguay on October 14.

Following their training camp, the team will move into the official FIFA hotel in Rabat on October 15, joining other participating nations as the countdown begins to the global showpiece.

Drawn in Group D, Nigeria will face Canada, France, and Samoa in what promises to be a competitive group. The Flamingos will begin their campaign against Canada on Sunday, October 19, before locking horns with France three days later.

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Both matches will be played at the Football Academy Mohammed VI in Sale, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. Nigerian time. Their final group match comes against Samoa on October 25, starting at 5 p.m., also in Sale.

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere’s side heads into the tournament brimming with confidence after a remarkable build-up.

The Flamingos have played 10 tune-up games, scoring an impressive 44 goals without conceding any, a record that highlights their attacking prowess and defensive discipline.

Olowookere has expressed optimism about his team’s readiness, noting that the squad’s balance and form give them belief they can surpass their quarter-final finish at the last edition in the Dominican Republic.

With a perfect preparation run and growing momentum, the Flamingos will be aiming to make history in Morocco and bring pride to Nigerian women’s football once again.

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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Flamingos in Fiery Form as They Conclude World Cup Preparations in Abuja

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Shakirat Moshood riding on fellow forward Aisha Animashaun during one of the qualifying matches. 

Nigeria’s U17 Women’s National Team, the Flamingos, are rounding off their preparations for the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco with a string of dominant performances that underscore their growing confidence and team chemistry.

In a remarkable build-up campaign, the Flamingos have played eight friendly matches in Abuja, winning all and maintaining a perfect defensive record. The team has scored 26 goals without conceding, a run that has lifted morale and heightened expectations ahead of their World Cup challenge.

Last week, the team showcased their attacking prowess with a convincing 3–0 victory over Abuja All-Stars.

Praise Agba opened the scoring from a loose ball, Olamide Olanrewaju doubled the lead from the penalty spot, and Zainab Raji sealed the win with a thunderous strike shortly after the restart. Goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu was outstanding between the sticks, producing several key saves to preserve another clean sheet.

Earlier, the Flamingos overcame a rain-disrupted clash against Josiah Academy, running out 2–0 winners courtesy of a Chisom Nwachukwu brace within the opening 10 minutes before the downpour forced an early end to proceedings.

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The girls also recorded emphatic wins over Nazareth Angels (5–0), with Queen Joseph bagging a brace and goals from Praise Agba, Mariam Yahaya, and Chisom Nwachukwu; and Horvel Prime (5–0), where Joseph netted a first-half hat-trick, while captain Shakirat Moshood and Azeezat Oduntan added one apiece.

Across all their tune-up matches, the Flamingos have demonstrated an impressive balance — clinical in attack, disciplined in midfield, and solid at the back — as they fine-tune for global competition.

Drawn in Group D alongside Canada, France, and Samoa, Nigeria will depart for Morocco on October 8, aiming to carry their perfect form into the tournament, which runs from October 17 to November 8.

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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Falconets Edge She-Amavubi as Nigeria Extends Winning Run Over Rwanda

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Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, continued the country’s dominance over Rwanda on the international football stage by securing a 1–0 victory in Kigali on Sunday in the first leg of their 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup second-round qualifier.

The narrow win comes against the backdrop of two recent triumphs by the Super Eagles over Rwanda in the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series, underlining Nigeria’s growing hold in encounters with the East Africans.

At the Kigali-Pele Stadium in Nyamirambo, both sides battled fiercely in a goalless first half, with chances at a premium. The breakthrough arrived in the 70th minute when Alaba Olabiyi bundled the ball home from a goalmouth scramble after a Falconets corner. The strike proved enough to hand Coach Moses Aduku a winning start in his first competitive game in charge of the team.

With the victory, the Falconets carry a slim but valuable advantage into the return leg at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on Saturday, where they will be backed by home support as they push for a place in the next round of qualifiers.

The team’s delegation is expected back in Nigeria on Monday morning to begin preparations for the decisive clash.

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