Nigeria’s U17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, are intensifying training ahead of their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round clash with Algeria. The first leg of the tie will take place this weekend at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The team, coached by Bankole Olowookere, has been camping at the Remo Stars Sports Institute since their impressive win over South Africa in the last round. The Flamingos beat the South Africans 3-1 in Pretoria before sealing the tie with a 2-0 win at home, progressing 5-1 on aggregate.
Their next opponents, Algeria, had a tough first leg against Botswana in Gaborone, losing 2-1. However, they bounced back strongly in the second leg, securing a dominant 4-0 win to advance.
The Algerian team is expected to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday evening. Match officials will land in Nigeria a day later, on Thursday.
Ugandan referee Shamirah Nabadda will take charge of the match. She’ll be assisted by Fides Bangurambona from Burundi, with fellow Ugandans Immaculate Ongiera and Diana Murungi serving as assistant referee 2 and fourth official. Ghana’s Naa Odofoley Nortey has been named match commissioner, while South Africa’s Deidre Carmill Zealand will serve as referee assessor.
The return leg will be played at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida, near Algiers, on Friday, April 25. The winner on aggregate will qualify for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
This year’s tournament will be held in Morocco from October 17 to November 8. With the competition expanded to 24 teams, Africa will be represented by five countries, including host nation Morocco.
