Nigeria’s Flamingos have been drawn in Group B alongside Germany, New Zealand and Chile ahead of the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.
The official draw took place today (Friday) at the FIFA headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland.
Prior to the commencement of the draw, the Flamingos were placed in Pot 3 with USA, China and France while Germany was in Pot 1.
It is a return to the age grade competition for the Flamingos, after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Uruguay.
Africa’s other representatives going to India, Morocco and Tanzania, are in Group A and D respectively.
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The Moroccans will battle hosts India, USA and Brazil while Tanzania will face Japan, Canada and France.
Group C has Spain, who won the title in 2018, Colombia, Mexico and China.
This year’s tournament, which will be the seventh since its inception in 2008, will run from 11th to 30th October in three India cities: Margao, Navi Mumbai and Bhubaneswar.
India, would have hosted the 2020 edition before it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It will be the second time that India host a FIFA tournament after the men’s 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and the first time that India host a FIFA women’s football tournament.
By James Agberebi
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COMMENTS
This draw looks difficult but our girls are fit for this, the federation just need to start preparation on time for the girl’s to gel and understand each other better. It’s going to be a great tournament. Go girls.
How Will The Flamingos Fare Against Group Stage Foes in India?
Nigeria’s under-17 women’s team aka The Flamingoes are now aware of the teams that stand between them and successful participants ssage to the quarter-finals of the youth women’s world cup in October.
Germany, New Zealand and Chile are the names now etched in the minds of Bankole’s babes.
The coach himself, during the qualifiers, was vocal on how he tailored his approach to specific oppositions after carrying out his homework. He now has to replicate this on the world stage.
So, how are the Flamingos expected on paper to fare against each of these teams?
I take a look at this below.
1, Germany: the European teenage ladies surprisingly do not have a stellar record in the tournament with a third place podium finish in 2008 as their greatest achievement to date at this level. However, they are the current European U-17 women’s champions.
Prognosis: without a shadow of doubt, Germany will provide the sternest test for the Flamingos in the group stages. The Europeans, who are serial European championship winners, should bring to bear the world class level of efficiency, organisation and tactical acumen that Germany are known for in football in all levels across gender.
Nigeria have never faced Germany in the under-17 women’s world cup, so Bankole’s damsels will want to give a good account of themselves.
For me, looking through rose tinted glasses, the best case scenario for Nigeria is a draw against Germany.
2, Chile: the young South American ladies limped to this world cup by managing to win just 3 out of their 7 qualifiers with a minus 7 goals difference. This will be their second outing in the Under-17 women’s world cup since 2010 where they crashed out in the group stages winless.
Prognosis: the omens are in Nigeria’s favour to run out winners against Chile. In the only game that Nigeria met Chile at this level of World Cup in 2010, Ordega (1), Ayila (a hattrick) and Okobi (1) powered the Flamingos to an emphatic 5:0 victory.
Without being disrespectful, this should be a sure-banker 3 points for the kitty for Bankole’s babes.
3, New Zealand : the ‘Young Female Ferns’, as they are known, have a pedigree in this tournament having won bronze medals once in 2018. They are also serial winners in their continental championships with no less than 4 gold medals between 2010 and 2017.
Nigeria will be meeting New Zealand for this first time in this tournament’s history.
Prognosis: the dashing young ladies from Oceania present a potential banana skin for the Flamingos. One has to speculate that the battle for the second quarter final ticket in the group will be between Nigeria and New Zealand with Germany taking the top slot.
I will gamble on a slim victory for the Flamingos in this one but it will definitely not come easy.