Morocco 2025: Flamingos Depart For South Africa

Nigeria’s U17 girls, the Flamingos, will fly out of the country to South Africa today, March 5, 2025, for the first of their two-leg FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against the U17 girls of South Africa, known as Bantwana.

The match, which will be officiated by a team from Kenya as appointed by the Confederation of African Football, is set to kick off at 3 PM South Africa time (2 PM Nigeria) on Saturday, 8th March, at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital.

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has selected 19 players, including goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, defenders Hannah Ibrahim and Jumai Adebayo, midfielders Shakirat Moshood and Muinat Rotimi, and forwards Harmony Chidi and Chisom Nwachukwu.

While the 2022 FIFA World Cup bronze medallists Nigeria received a bye to the second round, Bantwana convincingly defeated their counterparts from Gabon 21-2 on aggregate.

CAF has appointed Josephine Wanjiku as the referee, with her compatriots Mary Njoroge, Elizabeth Njoroge, and Juma Lucy Awino serving as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2, and fourth official, respectively.

Cindy Barbara Dludlu from eSwatini will act as the commissioner, while Moroccan Khadija Rezzag will serve as the referee assessor.

The two teams will meet again in the return leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday, 15th March, with the aggregate winner progressing to the third round of the qualification campaign.

This year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Morocco from 17th October to 8th November, with Africa presenting five teams (including the host nation Morocco) at the finals, which has expanded to a 24-nation championship.