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Tag: Flamingos

  • FIFA U17 Women’s World: Flamingos know foes today in Rabat 

    FIFA U17 Women’s World: Flamingos know foes today in Rabat 

    The draw ceremony for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals will take place in Rabat, Morocco’s administrative capital, today, 4th  June.

    For the very first time, 24 countries will take part in the tournament, which is the ninth edition since the competition was launched in New Zealand 17 years ago.

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    In Pot 1 will be hosts Morocco (one of Africa’s five flag-bearers), Spain, Japan, North Korea (Cup holders), USA and Nigeria (which is making its eighth appearance in the competition).

    Pot 2: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand, Ecuador

    Pot 3: China, Cameroon, South Korea, Italy, France, Zambia

    Pot 4: Paraguay, Costa Rica, Netherlands, Norway, Cote d’Ivoire, Samoa

  • Morocco 2025: Flamingos set to grab World Cup ticket in Blida

    Morocco 2025: Flamingos set to grab World Cup ticket in Blida

    Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, are firm and ready to pick the ticket for the country’s eighth appearance at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, despite the predictably-cold atmosphere of the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida (outside Algiers), tonight.

    Tonight’s encounter against their Algerian counterparts is the final leg of a final qualifying round fixture, with the Flamingos, bronze-medallists from the 2022 finals in India and quarter-finalists from the last edition in the Dominican Republic, holding on to a 4-0 first-leg advantage. 

    The Federation Algerienne de Football (FAF) has scheduled the match to kick off at 8pm, at a time that the winds will begin to blow in stronger from the Mediterranean Sea.

    However, the Flamingos, who arrived in Algiers in the early hours of Wednesday aboard a Turkish Airline flight from Istanbul, are highly inspired by the imminence of another FIFA World Cup ticket as well as further financial windfall from the Nigeria Football Federation and billionaire business mogul Kunle Soname.

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    Soname gifted the young players and their officials the sum of N4million (one million naira for every goal) following their commanding win over the North Africans at the Remo Stars Stadium on Saturday, while the NFF gave out the sum of N2million (five hundred thousand naira for every goal).

    President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Hon. Soname have both confirmed that the same financial incentives are in place for the second leg in Blida on Friday.

     “Our objective is clear – to win the FIFA World Cup ticket. That is the big motivation. Yet, we have been further incentivized by the monetary rewards. My girls will go all out on Friday night,” Head Coach Bankole Olowookere said.

    Olowookere, who led the Flamingos to their last two World Cup ventures, will most likely rely on first-leg two-goal heroine Queen Joseph, lone-goal scorer Zainab Raji and Kaosarat Olanrewaju to start at the fore, with Shakirat Moshood, Muinat Rotimi and Philomena Isaiah supplying the passes from the midfield. Goalkeeper and captain Christiana Uzoma and defenders Azeezat Oduntan, Hannah Ibrahim, Christiana Sunday and Jumai Adebayo are also likely to start.

    Oumou Souleymane Kane from Mauritania will be commissioner and Sabelo Maphosa-Sibindi from Zimbabwe will be in the role of referee assessor.   

  • Flamingos wallop Algeria 4-0 to move nearer 2025 World Cup

    Flamingos wallop Algeria 4-0 to move nearer 2025 World Cup

    Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, took a significant step toward qualification for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco with a commanding 4-0 win over Algeria on Saturday evening at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

    A brace from forward Queen Joseph and powerful strikes from Zainab Oluwaseun Raji and Aishat Animashaun sealed the win for the hosts in the first leg of their final qualifying round.

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    Joseph wasted no time in setting the tone, calmly finishing a low cross from inside the box to put Nigeria ahead in the opening 60 seconds. The early lead unsettled the Algerians, and the Flamingos pressed forward with relentless intent.

    Their dominance paid off again in the 13th minute when Raji doubled the lead, converting from close range after a well-worked attacking move.

    RESULTS

    ENGLAND

    Brentford         4 – 2 Brighton

    Crystal Palace 0 – 0 Bournemouth

    Everton            0 – 2 Manchester City

    West Ham       1 – 1 Southampton

    Aston Villa       4 – 1 Newcastle

    SPAIN

    Rayo Vallecano 1 – 1 Valencia

    Barcelona          4 – 3 Celta Vigo

    Mallorca            0 – 0 Leganes

  • Morocco 2025: Algeria’s contingent flies into Lagos for battle-ready Flamingos

    Morocco 2025: Algeria’s contingent flies into Lagos for battle-ready Flamingos

    Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, have stepped up preparations for this weekend’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round, first leg clash with their counterparts from Algeria, scheduled for the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo.

    The 2022 World Cup bronze medallist, under the watchful eyes of Head Coach Bankole Olowookere and his assistants, have remained in camp at the stellar Remo Stars Sports Institute since the demolition of South Africa’s Bantwana over two legs last month.

    Nigeria trashed South Africa 3-1 in the first leg at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, and followed up with a 2-0 win in Ikenne-Remo for a handsome 5-1 aggregate. The Algerians suffered a 2-1 reverse in their first leg against Botswana in Gaborone, but fired from all cylinders to win 4-0 in the return leg in North Africa.

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    The Algerian girls, whose senior team lost to the Super Falcons in two friendly matches in Ikenne-Remo and Lagos in October last year, will land in Lagos this  evening, while the match officials are expected to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday.

    The Confederation of African Football has appointed Ugandan Shamirah Nabadda as referee, with Fides Bangurambona from Burundi as assistant referee 1. Nabadda’s compatriots Immaculate Ongiera and Diana Murungi will serve as assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.

    Naa Odofoley Nortey from Ghana will be the commissioner, with South African Deidre Carmill Zealand to be in the role of referee assessor.

    Both teams will battle things out in the return leg at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida (outside Algiers) on Friday, 25th  April, with the winner on aggregate qualifying for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.   

    This year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Morocco between 17 October and 8 November with Africa to present 5 teams (including host nation Morocco) at the finals, which has been expanded to a 24-nation championship.

  • Morocco 2025: Flamingos  won’t go on break  for Algeria

    Morocco 2025: Flamingos  won’t go on break  for Algeria

    Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, are to remain in camp as they countenance the final round of qualification series for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, in which they confront their Algerian counterparts.

    The first leg encounter will take place on Saturday, 19th  April at the Remo Stars’ Stadium, Ikenne-Remo, with both teams to clash in the final leg in Algeria a week later.

    2022 World Cup bronze medallists Nigeria trashed South Africa’s Bantwana 3-1 in Pretoria and followed this up with a 2-0 win in Ikenne at the weekend, for a 5-1 aggregate win that condemned the visitors to trying their luck again next year, while Nigeria progressed to the final round.

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    On their part, Algeria lost 1-2 to Botswana in Gaborone in the first leg, but fired on all cylinders to win the return 4-0 on home soil to be eligible to confront Nigeria for a ticket to this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in Morocco.

    Other final round fixtures are: Kenya  versus  Cameroon; Benin Republic versus Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire versus Guinea.

  • Maroc 2025: Flamingos to battle  Algeria  for World Cup ticket

    Maroc 2025: Flamingos to battle  Algeria  for World Cup ticket

    Nigeria’s Women’s Under 17 national team, the Flamingos, will face-off with  Algeria in the final qualifying round for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

    The North Africans thrashed Botswana 4-0 in the second leg of their second round tie on Sunday to set up a date with Nigeria’s women’s side who have played in all editions of the cadet women’s World Cup except in 2018 held in Uruguay

    Algeria was beaten 2-1 by Botswana in the first leg but the former progressed to the final round 5-2 on aggregate having dispatched their opponents 4-0 in the reverse fixture played in Algiers.

    Bankole Olowookere-led Flamingos recorded a 5-1 aggregate win over South Africa to also book a passage to the last qualifying round.

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    Flamingos won 3-1 in Pretoria and 2-0 in the second leg tie in Ikenne, Ogun state last weekend.

    The clash between Nigeria and Algeria is scheduled for next month with the Flamingos hosting the first leg in Ikenne on April 19th  before the second leg in Algiers on the weekend of April 25th to 27th .

    In the other fixtures across Africa, Kenya that hammered Uganda 5-0 on aggregate will face Cameroon the conqueror of Ethiopia 6-2 on aggregate in the final round.

    Zambia that defeated Tanzania 4-0 on aggregate will slug it out with Benin Republic that thrashed DR Congo 5-0 on aggregate while Cote d’Ivoire that overturned a 3-1 first leg deficit to qualify 4-3 on aggregate will entertain Guinea in the final qualifying round also. The West African ended Sierra Leone’s World Cup hopes 4-3 on aggregate.

  • Senegalese to supervise Flamingos, Bantwana clash in Ikenne

    Senegalese to supervise Flamingos, Bantwana clash in Ikenne

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Senegalese match officials  to take charge of Saturday’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup second round, second leg qualifying match between Nigeria’s Flamingos and South Africa’s Bantwana.

    A brace by Harmony Chidi, which followed Shakirat Moshood’s goal, steered Nigeria to a 3-1 win over their hosts in Pretoria on Saturday, but the Bantwana have sounded a big warning that they will not be in Ikenne to lie down and be slaughtered.

    Team captain Katleho Malebana, whose goal early in the second half raised the hopes of the Bantwana, before Chidi’s second and Nigeria’s third, has assured that the South Africans will contest every blade of the grass with their hosts at the Remo Stars Stadium on Saturday.   

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    Meanwhile, Aida Sy  will  serve as referee, while her compatriots Ndeye Aissa Ndiaye, Ndeye Sarr Ndiaye and Fatoumata Sall Toure will be in the roles of assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.

    Ghanaian Naa Odofoley Nortey will be the commissioner while Agar Mezing from Cameroon will be the referee assessor.

    Saturday’s encounter will kick off at 4pm.

    While the Flamingos have intensified their preparation with training sessions at the Remo Stars Institute, Ikenne-Remo ahead of Saturday’s encounter, the delegation of South Africa’s U17 girls was scheduled to arrive in Lagos last night,

    The winner on aggregate will progress to the final round of the qualification series, with this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup taking place in Morocco, 17 October – 8 November. Africa will present 5 teams (including host nation Morocco) at the finals, which has been expanded to a 24-nation championship.

  • Flamingos beat South Africa 3-1 in U17 World Cup playoff

    Flamingos beat South Africa 3-1 in U17 World Cup playoff

    The Flamingos of Nigeria are one big step closer to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup after defeating hosts South Africa 3-1 in Pretoria yesterday.

    Shakirat  Moshood opened scoring for the Flamingos on the 20th minute.

    Harmony Chidi then doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 41st via a penalty for both teams to go into the dressing room for the interval with the Flamingos 2-0 up.

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    However, the home team pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 47th minute, before Harmony completed her brace in the 68th minute.

    The return leg will be played in Ikenne, Nigeria.

  • WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup:  Flamingos thro’  to semi-final clash with Benin

    WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup:  Flamingos thro’  to semi-final clash with Benin

    Scoring sensation Harmony Chidi notched a hat-trick as Nigeria edged Cote d’Ivoire 3-2 in their second match of the WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup in Accra.

    Chidi, who netted 13 of the 25 goals as the Flamingos crushed everything on their path in Africa to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in the Dominican Republic this year, took matters into her own hands yesterday to ensure Nigeria finished top of group B of the inaugural competition.

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    Following their 9-0 whiplash of Niger Republic on Thursday, the Flamingos finished the group campaign with the six maximum points, and with 12 goals for and only two against, while Cote d’Ivoire, 5-0 winners over the Nigeriens, came second with three points and seven goals for, three against. The Nigeriens finished without a point, and with no goal, 14 against.

    The young Ivorian girls will go up against hosts, Black Maidens of Ghana in the first semi-final of the competition on Thursday, before the second semi-final that will see FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists Nigeria tackle neighbours Benin Republic at the Ghana Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

    Esther Kwame, who scored the Ivorians’ first goal against Nigeria with a far-distance shot in the 56th minute, and Guasam, who scored from the penalty spot to reduce the tally five minutes later after a foul by Rokibat Azeez, could prove a handful for the Black Maidens on Thursday.

  • WAFU B U17: Flamingos star assures Cote d’Ivoire will fall

    WAFU B U17: Flamingos star assures Cote d’Ivoire will fall

    Janet Akekoromowei ‘Semenya’, who netted a hat-trick in the Flamingos 9-0 pounding of Niger in a WAFU B U17 Women’s Championship in Ghana, has expressed confidence the team will beat Cote d’Ivoire in continuation of the tournament.

    The Flamingos battle Cote d’Ivoire Monday.

    “We will be gunning for victory again against Cote d’Ivoire,” said ‘Semenya’.

    “We take each game as they come and I believe it will be another victory in the next game.”

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    The big striker, who has already debuted for the Super Falcons, credited the whole team for her goals against Niger.

    “Scoring a hat-trick wasn’t easy, but it was a team work effort and we played to the instructions of the coach,” she said.

    “I am also in Ghana to score goals for Nigeria”

    The Nasarawa Amazon striker was top scorer in a recent pre-season tournament in Benin City with four goals.