NIGERIA’s U17 girls, the Flamingos, will commence their preparations on Sunday at the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Ikenne-Remo, ahead of their two-leg FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying clash against South Africa’s U17 girls, known as Bantwana.
The 2022 World Cup bronze medallists advanced directly to the second round of the African qualifiers, while Bantwana made a dominant statement by thrashing Gabon 21-2 on aggregate—winning 12-1 away and 9-1 at home.
“It is important that the Flamingos start their camping early for this second-round fixture, not just because South Africa won their first-round matches 21-2 on aggregate, but because that is the right thing to do.
“We are aware that matches between Nigeria and South Africa are always intense, full of emotion for players, officials, and fans, and highly competitive on the pitch.
“The Flamingos remain the best team in Africa and one of the best in the world, and they will be adequately prepared for the challenges ahead,” said NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
Meanwhile, Bantwana’s Head Coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo, has urged the South African Football Association to provide his team with an extended preparation period and reinforcements to match Nigeria’s strength.
“Yes, tactically they (Nigeria) are good, like us, but if you measure when we play pound-for-pound, our players are not ready for that—we need reinforcements. If we can get support, I believe there are more quality players in the country who deserve to be part of the team.
“Additionally, we need a longer camp and friendly games to ensure we are ready for the next round,” Khumalo stated.
The 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup is scheduled for October 17 to November 8 in Morocco. Africa will have five representatives, including the host nation, following the tournament’s expansion to 24 teams.
