Flamingos Target WAFU B Crown to Build Momentum for World Cup

PHOTO CREDIT: U-17 women’s national team, Flamingos / Punch Newspapers
Flamingos Target WAFU B Crown to Build Momentum for World Cup
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, are eyeing the title at the 2nd WAFU B U-17 Girls Tournament in Ivory Coast as they fine-tune preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The team, led by coach Hakeem Busari, arrived in Ivory Coast on Monday for the regional competition. They will now open their campaign against Niger Republic on Wednesday, following the withdrawal of Benin Republic’s U-17 team.

The withdrawal has altered the initial fixture list. Nigeria were initially billed to face arch-rivals Ghana in their opener, but that highly anticipated encounter has now been pushed to Saturday.

Coach Busari said the team is determined to win the regional title as a confidence booster for the global challenge ahead.
“This is the kind of tournament we want to win and build on it for the task ahead, which is the World Cup,” Busari said.
Busari named a 20-player squad for the tournament. The WAFU B championship is seen as a key preparatory ground for Nigeria and Ghana – two of Africa’s four representatives at this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The other African teams are Kenya and Zambia.

This year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Morocco from October 17 to November 8. Nigeria have been drawn in Group B alongside North Korea, Puerto Rico and Poland, while Ghana will battle Canada, Brazil and Norway in Group C.
SOURCE: Punch Newspapers