Both Nigeria and Egypt may have failed in the bid for the flagship FIFA World Cup later in the year, both are hoping to ameliorate their last hurdle miss by picking tickets for the U17 Women’s World Cup which also holds this year in India.
The delegation Egypt’s U17 girls for Sunday’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup third round, first leg encounter with Nigeria’s Flamingos has arrived in Abuja.
Flamingos, who bumped their counterparts from the Democratic Republic of Congo 8-0 on aggregate (3-0 in Kinshasa and 5-0 in Benin City) last month, will reach the final round of the qualifiers if they fly past their Egyptian counterparts.
Both teams clash at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Sunday, 17th April with the return leg to take place in Cairo on Friday, 30th April.
The winner on aggregate will tango with the winner of the fixture between Ethiopia and South Africa for a place at this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, which will be staged in India, 11th – 30th October.
Meanwhile, the Ivorian match officials appointed by the Confederation of African Football for Sunday’s encounter are also in Nigeria, led by Natacha Gérardine Konan (Referee). The others are Lou Djenan Danielle Ta (assistant referee 1), Ndeko Edwige Appia (assistant referee 2) and Zomadre Sonia Kore (fourth official). The match commissioner is Mervat Hussein Sadig from Sudan).
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…Bankole picks 20 for Egypt
Head Coach Olowookere Bankole has picked 20 players from the group in camp for the task of eliminating Egypt’s U17 girls and reaching the final round of African qualifiers for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
The list is comprised of two goalkeepers, seven defenders, four midfielders and seven forwards.
Goalkeepers: Faith Omilana, Linda Jiwuaku
Defenders: Blessing Sunday, Comfort Folorunsho, Tumininu Adeshina, Olamide Oyinlola, Omamuzo Edafe, Miracle Usani, Confidence Nwoha
Midfielders: Blessing Emmanuel, Taiwo Afolabi, Chidera Okenwa, Joy Igbokwe
Forwards: Aminat Bello, Mercy Itimi, Alvine Da-Zossu, Anastasia Atume, Opeyemi Ajakaiye, Yetunde Ayantosho, Adaobi Okah
6 Comments
Go girls! !
Abuja again !!!!
Egyptian girls are normally kept in kule, they are not known for football so I’m expecting a whitewash from flamingoes. Up Nigeria!
All eyes will be on sumptuous sniper Opeyemi Ajakaiye ye to shoot the Flamingos to glory in this weekend’s world cup qualifiers at home to Egypt.
The danger-girl already has three goals in this qualifying series and no one will bet against her adding to that tally.
Even at a young age, Ajakaiye has already ruffled the feathers of defenders in domestic Nigerian women’s football. Only last year, her bolt from the blue helped FC Robo Queens win the 2021 Flying Officer’s Cup at the Area 10 Sports Complex in Abuja.
Since Abuja is a familiar hunting ground to her, she should find waiting preys in Egyptian backline.
The likes of Blessing Emmanuel, Tumininu Adeshina, Taiwo Afolabi and Doorsur Atume have all found the back of the net thus far for Bankole’s damsels. And all the other members of this fabulous Flamingos team have been no less fantastic in dispensing their roles.
These colleens are expected to continue from where they left off against Egypt this weekend: with a basket full of goals laced with a flamboyant brand of football.
Flamingos Hint At A Sexy Brand of Football Against Egypt
With just hours to go before Nigeria’s under 17 women’s world cup qualifier in Abuja, some of the key players have come out to say they are well primed for the encounter.
“We have been having great training sessions and we have learnt a lot of great (and exciting) stuff,” said Captain Dah Zossu Alvine. ” As a result, fans can expect the best from us and good football. We promise to make Nigeria proud,” she concluded.
The Falconets showed pitiless savagery in the previous round of qualifiers by crushing Congo a whooping 8:0 across two legs. Now they promise to continue producing such scintillating performances.
“We are very ready to face the Egyptians, to play good football and to bag our points,” said Taiwo Afolabi as her colleague Opeyemi Ajakaiye promises a hail of goals against the North Africans.
“I promise nothing but my best and to crown it with more goals,” said Ajakaiye who has three goals from the last match.
The brand of football played by the Flamingos in the last round was compelling, romantic and captivating. The way they caressed the ball and work they way smoothly into delicate opposition areas was a delight to watch. They were were cool, calm and collected in they all round play and played their game like a strategy-driven game of chess.
And with what the players said, fans can expect more of that sexy and sumptuous brand of football against Egypt and beyond.
Yorubas are doing Nigerians proud. Great squared.