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, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The 2022 World Cup bronze medallists, 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.
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 on Wednesday evening, while the match officials are expected to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday.
Both teams will battle it out in the return leg at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida (outside Algiers) on Friday, 25th April. The winner on aggregate will qualify for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.
This year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, 17 October – 8 November, with Africa to present 5 teams (including host nation Morocco) at the finals, which has been expanded to a 24-nation championship.
By Oluwadamilola Olaleye