WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Nigeria-South Africa clash headlines African Qualifiers for the U-17 Women’s World Cup
The second round of qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will take place in Morocco from later this year, officially resumes this weekend, tense encounters lined up.
Africa has four places reserved at the global showpiece which will be at stake as the qualification race heats up.
Starting on Saturday, 8 March, the first-leg matches will pit several ambitious teams against each other.
Cameroon will host Ethiopia, while Tanzania will face Zambia. One of the most anticipated matchups will be South Africa against Nigeria, a duel between two teams accustomed to international competition.
Other exciting clashes to look out for in the first leg include Sierra Leone vs Guinea and Benin vs DR Congo.
On the eastern part of the continent, Uganda and Kenya will meet in a CECAFA derby, while Algeria will attempt to overcome Botswana in a north versus south clash.
One other appetising clash will see Cote d’Ivoire taking on Burundi.
The second-leg matches, scheduled for 14 March 14, will be decisive in determining which teams will qualify.
With their experience and the advantage of playing at home, Zambia and Nigeria, who represented the continent in the last World Cup in the Dominican Republic, will aim to win and continue their journey.
Some of the teams involved have a strong track record in youth competitions.
Nigeria, a five-time qualifier for the U-17 Women’s World Cup, is the favourite against South Africa and will look to confirm its status over the two legged encouter. Cameroon, with several participations in this global tournament, will rely on its experience to overcome an Ethiopia team that has shown significant progress.
Zambia, rising in women’s football, must be cautious of Tanzania, a team that has demonstrated its potential in recent years.
Meanwhile, DR Congo, though less experienced in this age category, hopes to surprise Benin. Finally, Algeria will have to stay alert against Botswana, a team always capable of pulling off an upset.
Schedule of the Second Round of the African Qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
First-leg Matches
Saturday, March 8, 2025 (local time)
- South Africa vs Nigeria (14:00)
- Uganda vs Kenya (14:00)
- Botswana vs Algeria (14:00)
- Sierra Leone vs Guinea (17:00)
- Cameroon vs Ethiopia (19:00)
Sunday, March 9, 2025 (local time)
- Tanzania vs Zambia (17:00)
- Benin vs DR Congo (16:00)
- Cote d’Ivoire vs Burundi (17:00)
Second-leg Matches
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 (local time)
17:00: Burundi vs Cote d’Ivoire
Saturday, March 15, 2025 (local time)
13:00: Ethiopia vs Cameroon
15:00: Zambia vs Tanzania
16:00: Nigeria vs South Africa
17:00: Guinea vs Sierra Leone
Sunday, March 16, 2025 (local time)
13:00: Kenya vs Uganda
15:30: DR Congo vs Benin
21:00: Algeria vs Botswana
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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.
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
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.
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
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.
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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