Nigeria’s cadet female national team, Flamingos have received a very strong tip to excel next month at the 2026 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup, based on their amazing form at West African Football Union (WAFU)-B competition in Cote d’Ivoire.
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Sports247 reports that Coach Hakeem Busari’s side ended the competition with a 4-0 trouncing of Togo to complete a clean sweep of five straight victories that gave them top spot on the round robin table, much to the delight of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials.
Leading the spray of encomiums on the players, coaches and backroom staff, NFF’s acting general-secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme said Busari’s team made their country proud and showed that they have what it takes to excel next month at this year’s Female Cadet Mundial in Morocco.
Reacting to the Flamingos’ victory, ahead of their return home on Tuesday, Ikpeme commended the players and officials for what he referred to as their excellent outing at the sub-regional competition, which was officially tagged WAFU-B Girls Cup and took place in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire.
Sunday morning’s victory over Togo meant Busari’s team had won all their five matches, while scoring a total of 17 goals in the process and conceded only two, which Ikpeme believes means the present squad can do better than the 2022 team that won bronze at the Women’s U17 World Cup.
His verdict noted that the Flamingos earlier trounced Niger Republic 5-0, beat Ghana 4-2, pipped Burkina Faso 2-0 and hit hosts Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 before Sunday’s commanding victory over Togo that confirmed the trophy for Nigeria.
IIkpeme stated, “The Flamingos have done very well, made the nation proud, and I have this faith in the players that they are not done yet. I have confidence in the team to go to Morocco and achieve great things at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, which is starting next month.
“It is no mean feat to win five matches out of five in a tournament. That is a distinction. The NFF is appreciative of the WAFU-B headquarters for organising the tournament as a premium preparatory event for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, and I believe the Flamingos have benefitted immensely ahead of the global competition.”
