Heading into the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco this October, Nigeria’s U17 women’s squad, known as the Flamingos, stand out as one of the tournament’s hottest teams, following an impressive preparation phase in Abuja, according to Soccernet.ng.
Throughout eight warm-up fixtures, the Flamingos have maintained a flawless record, securing victory in every match while netting 26 goals and keeping a clean sheet throughout.
This remarkable streak has energized the team and heightened anticipation among fans back home as they prepare to face Canada, France, and Samoa in the group stage.
The team’s dominance has been both commanding and consistent.
Striker Queen Joseph has been a revelation, delivering a rapid-fire hat-trick within 35 minutes against Horvel Prime and adding two goals in a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Nazareth Angels.
Key contributions have also come from Praise Agba, Chisom Nwachukwu, and captain Shakirat Moshood, while goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu has been instrumental in maintaining their unblemished defensive record.
Stay Updated with the Latest Sports News – Subscribe to Our WhatsApp Channel Today!
Recent matches have highlighted the team’s versatility. They convincingly defeated Abuja All-Stars 3-0, with goals from Agba, Olamide Olanrewaju, and Zainab Raji. In a challenging, rain-soaked encounter against Josiah Academy, Nwachukwu’s early brace helped calm nerves and secure the win. This blend of flair and resilience shows the Flamingos’ ability to both dominate and endure tight battles.
Nigeria’s history in this competition is steadily improving. After reaching the quarterfinals in three of their initial four tournaments (2010, 2012, 2014), they broke new ground in 2022 by overcoming the USA in a penalty shootout. They repeated a quarterfinal appearance last year and now, buoyed by confidence and momentum, the Flamingos are poised to advance even further.
The team is scheduled to depart for Morocco on October 8, with the tournament running from October 17 through November 8.
While Canada and France enter Group D as favorites, Nigeria’s impeccable form during preparations positions them as a formidable contender capable of causing upsets.
The Flamingos will kick off their campaign against Canada on October 19, face France three days later, and conclude their group matches on October 25 against Samoa, who are making their tournament debut.