The Flamingos’ head coach, Akeem Busari, has selected the players who will represent Nigeria at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup competition, with the team scheduled to leave the country on Wednesday, October 7.
Captain Harmony Chidi will lead the squad in Morocco, with the final list made up of three goalkeepers, seven defenders, five midfielders and six forwards.
The Flamingos have been drawn in Group B, where they will face Poland, Puerto Rico and defending champions Korea DPR.
Nigeria will open their campaign against Poland on October 17 before taking on Puerto Rico three days later. Their final group match will be against Korea DPR on October 23.
The group presents a difficult test for Busari’s young side, particularly with the defending champions standing in their way. However, Nigeria will head into the competition with confidence after a strong qualification campaign.
Chidi is expected to be one of the players to watch after her impressive performances on the road to Morocco. FIFA records show that the Flamingos captain scored five goals during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign and added three more during the WAFU B U-17 Girls’ Cup in September.
Nigeria secured their place at the World Cup after defeating Benin Republic in the final qualifying round. The team will now hope to carry that momentum into the tournament proper.
The Flamingos are no strangers to the U-17 Women’s World Cup. Nigeria have made nine previous appearances at the competition, highlighting the country’s strong record at the youth level.
Their best finish came at the 2022 edition in India, where the Flamingos reached the semi-finals before claiming the bronze medal after defeating Germany in the third-place match.
With the final squad now confirmed and their departure scheduled, attention will turn to the team’s preparations in Morocco. Busari and his players will have to find the right balance between youth, experience and consistency as they look to progress from a competitive Group B.
The first major target will be to get a positive result against Poland on October 17 and build from there.
For the Flamingos, the journey to Morocco is not only about participating in another World Cup. It is another opportunity for Nigeria’s young players to make their mark on the international stage and continue the country’s strong tradition in women’s youth football.
