Tag: Dominican Republic

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has listed Captain Taiwo Afolabi and forwards Harmony Chidi and Peace Effiong in his 21-woman Flamingos’ roster for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in the Dominican Republic.

The clinical Chidi scored 13 of the team’s record-setting 25 goals in the qualifying series, as the bronze medallists from the last edition of the championship in India barnstormed their way past Central African Republic, Burkina Faso and Liberia in the continental campaign.

Petite midfielder Afolabi will lead the midfield, alongside Faridat Abdulwahab, Shakirat Moshood and Ayomide Rotimi, while first-choice goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma will have Sylvia Echefu and Elizabeth Boniface pushing her to her best all the time.

Taiwo Adegoke leads six other defenders, with Harmony Chidi leading six other forwards including Peace Effiong.

Nigeria will compete in Group A of the 16-nation finals alongside host nation Dominican Republic, Ecuador and New Zealand.

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The delegation of Flamingos will depart the shores of Nigeria aboard a Turkish Airlines flight today, 1^st   October,  for a two-week training tour in Santo Domingo, capital city of the Dominican Republic, ahead of the commencement of the tournament.

FLAMINGOS FOR FIFA U17 WORLD CUP

Goalkeepers: Christiana Uzoma (Edo Queens); Elizabeth Boniface (Sunshine Queens); Sylvia Echefu (Confluence Queens)

Defenders: Prisca Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers); Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels); Taiwo Adegoke (Remo Stars Ladies); Rokibat Azeez (New Generation Academy); Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Vivian Ekezie (Heartland Queens); Ololade Isiaka (Abia Angels)

Midfielders: Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Faridat Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons); Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens); Muinat Rotimi (Nakamura Football Academy)

Forwards: Oghenemairo Obruthe (City Sports); Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers); Kudirat Arogundade (Green Foot); Ramotalahi Kareem (Honey Badgers); Aishat Animashaun (Naija Ratels); Peace Effiong (Rivers Angels); Blessing Ifitezue (Delta Queens)

The delegation of Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, will fly into the Liberian capital, Monrovia, on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final qualifying fixture, first leg encounter against their Liberian counterparts.

To reach this stage, the 2022 World Cup bronze medallists dispatched their counterparts from Central African Republic and Burkina Faso with high-goal margins. Central African Republic fell by a dozen goals on aggregate while the Burkinabe girls were routed 7-1.

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Liberia, who ejected Senegal from the race, face an uphill task against the nimble-footed Nigerian girls with Coach Bankole Olowookere insisting that the Flamingos are determined to be in the Dominican Republic to have the opportunity to challenge for the trophy this time around.

Sunday’s match has been slated for the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex at Paynesville – the same venue where the Super Eagles defeated the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone last year to qualify for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, would today depart the shores of the country for Bamako, capital of Mali ahead of Saturday’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup African qualification series third round, first leg encounter against their counterparts from Burkina Faso.

The Nigerian girls have failed to appear in only one edition of the competition (Uruguay 2018) since it was launched in New Zealand in 2008, and are set for a handsome win in the Malian capital to make the return leg in Abuja on 18^th  May a formality.

Despite a 9-1 hammering of their opponents in a preparatory game, Head Coach Bankole Olowookere insisted his girls have to realize there is a difference between training sessions and match situations, and learn to convert all their opportunities during games.

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Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has made a change to the fourth official of Saturday’s match at the Stade 26 March in Bamako. Originally, Joselyn Nsabimana was to be the fourth official alongside Burundi compatriots Suavis Iratunga, Fides Bangurambona and Alida Iradukunda who will be referee, assistant 1 and assistant 2 respectively.

However, CAF has now appointed Teneba Bagayoko from Mali to be the fourth official. Oumou Souleyman Kane from Mauritania and Aya Irene Ahoua from Cote d’Ivoire have been retained as commissioner and referee assessor respectively.