THE Flamingos of Nigeria will tomorrow begin their campaign for this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup against Canada at the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 2) in Salé, Morocco.
This will be the second meeting between these two sides at this level, with the first ending in a 1-1 draw in 2011.
The Flamingos arrived in Rabat full of confidence after a strong preparation phase that saw them play several warm-up matches.
They recorded double-digit wins in friendly matches back home, and defeated Paraguay 3-2 in Morocco after narrowly losing to New Zealand in one of their test matches.
All the focus will now be on the Flamingos’ World Cup opener, where discipline, composure, and efficient finishing will be key against a well-organised Canadian side who come into this fixture known for their tactical structure, physical strength, and compact defensive shape.
The North Americans have proven tough customers for African teams in past youth tournaments, and tomorrow’s clash will test Flamingos readiness to shine in Morocco.
According to head coach Bankole Olowookere, the Flamingos’ ambitions are much more than just progressing from the group.
After their impressive run to third place in India in 2022 and quarter-finals in the last edition in the Dominican Republic, the Flamingos are keen to do even better.
They need a good opening result against Canada to stay in contention in Group D, which also includes France and Samoa.