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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Morocco hoping to continue fairy tale run against France

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The Atlas Lionesses of Morocco will be hoping to continue their fairy-tale run at the FIFA Women’s World Cup when they meet France in the round of 16 of the tournament on Tuesday.

Just like their male counterparts who reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Morocco women’s national team has carved their own historic path at the global stage by qualifying for the round of 16 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in their first attempt, joining Nigeria and South Africa.

Not only have they achieved this remarkable feat in their first attempt, but Morocco also became the first African nation to win two successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches – this after suffering a 6-0 loss in their opening match where many wrote them off from the tournament.

Following their disappointing opening match, the Atlas Lionesses showed resilience with a 1-0 win over Korea Republic before roaring into the round of 16 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Colombia.

With a knockout stage spot fully secured against France, a lot will be expected of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations silver-medalists against the 5th ranked France, who carry the favourites tag going into the clash.

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The Europeans were held to a goalless stalemate by Jamaica in their opening match before pulling off one of the tournament upsets with a 2-1 victory over Brazil, before thrashing Panama 6-3 to secure a meeting with Morocco in the round of 16.

A lot of insight will be expected from their French-born coach, Reynald Pedros in identifying areas to exploit in the France team, something that the coach is well capable of after displaying his tactical acumen in masterminding the two victories that saw his side make history.

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

Morocco 2025: Nigeria qualify for FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup

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Despite wintry conditions in Blida, on the outskirts of the Algerian capital, Algiers, Nigeria’s U17 girls dug their feet into the ground on Friday night.

They achieved a scoreless draw that qualified them for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.

Holding on to a 4-0 first-leg advantage, the 2002 bronze medallists adopted a calm and collected pattern that easily soaked up the expected pressure from the hosts and then relied on fast breaks to try and pull the trigger on their opponents.

Although they created better chances on the night, the Flamingos failed to make dominance in possession pay, but swiftly collected the ticket to Morocco on a 4-0 aggregate win.

The difference over two legs of the final round was a remarkable display in the opening leg by the Flamingos, during which a brace by Queen Joseph and one each by Zainab Raji and substitute Aisha Animashaun ensured a 4-0 win.

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The Flamingos will now be one of Africa’s five representatives (including hosts Morocco) at this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals taking place from 17th October – 5th November. The final competition will entertain 24 teams for the very first time.

Since the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup competition was launched in New Zealand in 2008, Nigeria have failed to make the finals only once – the 2018 tournament hosted by Uruguay.

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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Despite heavy first leg loss, Algeria hopeful of a turnaround in Nigeria’s Flamingos clash

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The Algeria U17 women’s national team still hope for a possible turnaround in this Friday night clash with Nigeria’s Flamingos.

Algeria lost 4-0 in the first leg match in Ikenne last Saturday.

The Algerians completed their preparations on Thursday at the Sidi Moussa National Technical Centre, the eve of the return match against Nigeria.

The return match is scheduled for this Friday at 8 p.m. at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida. Aggregate winners will pick a ticket to the FIFA U-17 Women’s 2025 World Cup.

According to sources in Algeria, all the players took part in the final session, during which coach Abdenour Mira finalised the tactical details for the make or mar encounter.

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Despite the heavy defeat conceded in the first leg (4-0), the young Algerians approach this match with the desire to finish well and deliver an honourable performance against a formidable Nigerian team.

During the technical meeting held early in the afternoon at the FAF headquarters, in the presence of representatives of the two teams and the organisers, it was decided that Algeria will play in green, while Nigeria will wear white.

The match will be officiated by Cameroonian Aline Marie Noelle Guimbang, assisted by her compatriot Laurie Marcelle Tsafack Teikeu and Chadian Victorine Ngarassoum.

The fourth official will also be Cameroonian, Innoncentia Njang Ntangti.

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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Under possible cold weather in Blida, Nigeria’s Flamingos set to grab World Cup ticket

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The weather is most likely to be cold, but Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, are set to continue a tradition of qualifying for every edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, which has had eight editions, out of which the Flamingos featured in seven.

Only Japan, with 100 per cent attendance, has featured in more competitions than Nigeria’s Flamingos.

They look poised to feature again after a 4-0 defeat of Algeria in the first leg of the final qualifying series.

Apart from their opponents, Algeria, they have the expected cold weather to battle with at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida (outside Algiers), on Friday night.

Friday’s encounter against their Algerian counterparts is the final leg of a final qualifying round fixture, with the Flamingos, bronze-medallists from the 2022 finals in India and quarterfinalists from the last edition in the Dominican Republic, holding on to a 4-0 first-leg advantage.  

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The Federation Algerienne de Football (FAF) has scheduled the match to kick off at 8 pm, at a time when the winds will begin to blow in stronger from the Mediterranean Sea.

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