The Nigeria U-230 girls, known as the Flamingos, will begin their training on Sunday at the Remo Stars Sports Institute in Ikenne-Remo in preparation for their two-legged FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against South Africa’s U17 team, the Bantwana. The Flamingos, who secured a bronze medal in the 2022 World Cup, received a bye to the second round of the African qualifiers. Meanwhile, Bantwana dominated their first-round matches, defeating Gabon with a total aggregate score of 21-2, winning 12-0 in Gabon and 9-1 in South Africa. “Starting the Flamingos’ training early is crucial for this second-round match, not only because South Africa’s impressive first-round performance, but simply because it’s the right approach.” It is well-known that encounters between Nigeria and South Africa are often intense, fueled by strong emotions from players, officials, and supporters, as well as a fierce desire to win from the athletes. “The Flamingos continue to be the top team in Africa and among the finest globally, and they will be thoroughly equipped for the upcoming challenges,” stated Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, General Secretary of the NFF. Additionally, Dessers has disclosed that he turned down offers to depart Rangers in January. Bantwana’s Head Coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo, has cautioned the South Africa Football Association that his team requires more time to prepare and additional support in order to face Nigeria in the matches set for March 7-16. “While Nigeria is tactically proficient, similar to us, our players are currently not equipped for a direct comparison in terms of strength. We need to enhance our team in that regard.” We should seek backing to bring in reinforcements, as I still feel that our country has many talented players who merit inclusion in the team. Additionally, we need extended preparation for the next stage, including a longer training camp and friendly matches, to ensure we are fully prepared for the upcoming round. The FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, now an annual event, will take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 8 this year. Africa will be represented by five teams, including the host nation. The championship has also been extended to include 24 nations. Coach Bankole Olowookere, who guided the team to a third-place finish in India in 2022 and to the quarter-finals last year, has selected 30 players to start training this Sunday.
