Joe
Nigeria’s U17 Women’s National Team, the Flamingos, are heading to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco on a high, having wrapped up their final preparations in Abuja with a flawless series of friendly matches.
The team, under the watchful eyes of their coaching staff, played eight tune-up games since returning to camp—winning all, scoring 26 goals, and conceding none. The dominant performances have boosted squad morale and highlighted their readiness for the global stage.
In one of their standout matches last week, the Flamingos defeated Abuja All-Stars 3–0 in an assertive display. Praise Agba opened the scoring with a poacher’s finish, Olamide Olanrewaju doubled the lead from the penalty spot, and Zainab Raji sealed the result with a powerful effort just after halftime. Goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu was in superb form, making a series of crucial saves to maintain a clean sheet.
Earlier, the Flamingos overcame Josiah Academy 2–0 in a rain-disrupted encounter, with Chisom Nwachukwu netting both goals inside the first 10 minutes before inclement weather forced an early end to the match.
The team also notched emphatic wins over Nazareth Angels (5–0) and Horvel Prime (5–0). Queen Joseph starred in both games, scoring twice against Nazareth and bagging a rapid hat-trick in 35 minutes against Horvel. Other goal contributors included Praise Agba, Mariam Yahaya, Shakirat Moshood, and Azeezat Oduntan.
Throughout their preparations, the Flamingos have showcased impressive tactical balance, offensive sharpness, and defensive discipline—a well-rounded squad hungry for success.
Nigeria is drawn in Group D of the U17 Women’s World Cup alongside Canada, France, and Samoa. The team is scheduled to depart for Morocco on October 8, with the tournament running from October 17 to November 8, 2025.
The Flamingos will be looking to build on their historic semi-final finish in the last edition, aiming to go even further as they carry their perfect record and growing confidence onto the world stage.
