WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Dominican Republic 2024: Nigeria calls 25 to camp for Burkina Faso
Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has invited 25 players to the camp of U17 Girls National Team, Flamingos, ahead of next month’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Burkina Faso.
The list includes four goalkeepers, seven defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards.
Olowookere, who led the Flamingos to a first-ever World Cup bronze medal-finish in India last year, saw the girls fire from all cylinders in a 12-0 rout of their counterparts from Central African Republic over two legs in Douala and Abuja in the second round of the African qualifying series in February.
Harmony Chidi, who scored five of the 12 goals, as well as Ramota Kareem and Shakirat Moshood who netted a brace each in the 12-goal haul, are among the 25 players called.
Both teams will clash in the first leg of this third-round fixture at the Stade 4 August in Ouagadougou on Sunday, 12th May with the return leg at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 18th May.
This year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals will take place in the Dominican Republic.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Christiana Uzoma (Edo Queens); Elizabeth Boniface (Kwara Ladies); Sylvia Echefu (Confluence Queens); Favour Edward (Naija Ratels)
Defenders: Prisca Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers); Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels); Taiwo Adegoke (Remo Stars Ladies); Oluwatoyin Olowookere (Ekiti Queens); Rokibat Azeez (Royal Queens); Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Vivian Ekezie (Heartland Queens)
Midfielders: Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Mary Aderemi (Bayelsa Queens); Ololade Isiaka (Abia Angels); Farida Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons); Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens); Oghenemairo Obruthe (City Sports); Queen Joseph (Fosla Academy)
Forwards: Edidiong Etim (Bayelsa Queens); Yetunde Ayantosho (Heartland Queens); Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers); Kudirat Arogundade (Green Foot); Ramota Kareem (Honey Badgers); Aisha Animashaun (Naija Ratels); Peace Effiong (Rivers Angels)
The Nigeria U17 Women’s National Team, Flamingos, on Saturday thrashed Soccer Talent Academy 9-1 in Abuja, in their first preparatory match ahead of their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Burkina Faso
The visitors drew the first blood when their striker took advantage of poor communication between goalkeeper Ijeoma Uzoma and defender Prisca Nwachukwu. However, their celebration did not last long as Harmony Chidi equalized a few minutes later to open the floodgate of goals for Flamingos. Two minutes later, Etim Edidiong put Flamingos ahead with a superb strike from outside the box.
The two goalscorers then found the back of the net again to put the home side in a comfortable lead at halftime. On resumption of the second half, the Flamingos continued the push for more goals and their efforts paid off when Yetunde Ayantosho added another one from close range. Aisha Animashaun then joined the party with a brace before Funke Arogundade and Ramota Kareem wrapped up the goals-galore with good tap-ins.
Speaking after the match, coach Bankole Olowookere pointed out the areas the technical crew must work on before jetting out of the country.
“Despite scoring a lot of goals today, we missed a lot of chances too and we can not afford to do that in a competitive match. We must utilize our chances to score goals against Burkina Faso so that the return leg at home will be a walk in the park for us.
“I have noticed one or two things that must be corrected before our next friendly match and the girls must understand the difference between training session and match situation.”
The Flamingos’ delegation will depart from Abuja on Wednesday, 8 May to Bamako where they will face the Burkinabe U17 women’s team on Saturday, 11 May.
Nigeria have appeared at every edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals bar one – the 2018 finals staged in Uruguay.
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Dominican Republic 2024: Burkinabe U17 girls to host Flamingos on neutral ground, Bamako
Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos will have the advantage of playing their away match against their Burkinabe counterparts in a 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture on a neutral ground, with the world body having insisted that the Burkinabes cannot play in Ouagadougou as their home venue is not up to standard.
The decision has seen the Burkinabes opt for the Malian capital, Bamako, where they will host the Flamingos on Saturday, 11th May starting from 4pm Mali time.
The return leg will come up at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 18th May starting from 4.30pm Nigeria time.
The Confederation of African Football has appointed Suavis Iratunga from Burundi as referee for the match that will take place at the March 26 Stadium, with her compatriots Fides Bangurambona, Alida Iradukunda and Joselyne Nsabimana as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively. Oumou Souleyman Kanefrom Mauritania will be commissioner while Aya Irene Ahoua from Cote d’Ivoire will be the referee assessor.
For the return leg in Abuja, Aline Umutoni from Rwanda will be the referee, with her compatriots Alice Umutesi and Sandrine Usenga as assistant 1 and assistant 2 respectively. Ethiopian Raya Sisay will be the fourth official., with Naa Odofoley Nortey as commissioner and Senegalese Fatou Gaye as referee assessor.
The Flamingos’ delegation to Bamako will depart from Abuja on Wednesday, 8th May.
U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup and will instead focus on securing the 2031 edition, the national governing bodies said on Monday.
The decision comes less than three weeks before the FIFA Congress chooses the hosts on May 17 and leaves Brazil and a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands as the remaining candidates for the 2027 event.
“Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking – and having additional time to prepare allows us to maximise its impact across the globe,” U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said in a joint statement.
Last November, South Africa also withdrew their bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup and said they would instead focus on the 2031 tournament.
Australia and New Zealand held the 2023 finals, which Spain won. The U.S., Mexico and Canada will co-host the men’s World Cup in 2026.
-Reuters
NTTF picks Aruna, Edem, others for African Cup, Olympics Qualifiers in Kigali
CAS rejects Algeria’s request of accelerated hearing in RS Berkane-USM case
WAFU B U17 Championship: Garba insists technical crew on course to raise formidable squad
SUPER EAGLES TO FACE ENGLAND IN PRE-WORLD CUP FRIENDLY
Apart from Okwaraji, Nigeria’s Other Field-Related Obituaries
Grudgingly, Eto’o accepts new Cameroon coach Brys, but fails to attend ceremony
-
Nigerian Football5 days agoNFF cuts Enyimba’ point haul by two
-
Boxing1 week agoNigeria sports minister set for ’bout’ with Bash Ali
-
Nigerian Football6 days agoFinidi George becomes Nigeria’s 41st national coach
-
World Cup1 day agoSouth Africa may field Nigerian against Nigeria in World Cup qualifier
-
Nigerian Football1 week agoRemo Stars close to winning their first Nigeria Premier League title
-
Premier League1 week agoIheanacho, Ndidi back in Premier League as Leicester City get promotion
-
CAF Confederation Cup7 days agoBREAKING! RS Berkane – USM Alger Confederation Cup return match is called off
-
FEDERATION CUP2 days agoAt least five Premier League clubs set to exit President Federation Cup