Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, have discovered their group opponents for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and the journey ahead will demand everything they have, Footynaija.com reports.
The official draw, held on 4 June at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat, Morocco, placed the Flamingos in Group D alongside France, Canada, and Samoa, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive group.
This year’s tournament is already historic as it will be the first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to feature 24 nations. All matches will be held in Rabat, and it marks the first time the tournament will be hosted on African soil.
The tournament is scheduled to run from 17 October to 8 November 2025.
The Flamingos, who finished third at the last edition in India after defeating Germany on penalties in the bronze medal match, will have their eyes set on another strong outing.
Their group, however, presents a proper challenge.
A Closer Look at Group D
France are seasoned performers at this level and will enter the tournament with confidence. They were the first non-Asian country to win the U-17 Womenʼs World Cup in 2012.
Canada, another regular in women’s youth football, bring physical strength and tactical discipline. Their teams are known for being well-organised and aggressive, especially in transitions.
Samoa, although less experienced, should not be underestimated. They qualified through the OFC region and will be determined to make a mark on the world stage, possibly adopting a compact defensive style to frustrate bigger teams.
Why This Group Matters
This is a chance for Nigeria to prove their consistency at this level. The Flamingos have made the quarter-finals three times—2010, 2012, and 2014—and semi final, in 2022.
While the final squad is still under wraps, you should expect talents from the U-17 WAFU B tournament and promising names from U-15 and U-16 camps.
Full Group Draw Overview
Here is how the six groups look for the tournament:
Group A: Brazil, Costa Rica, Italy, Morocco
Group B: Cameroon, Korea DPR (defending champions), Mexico, Netherlands
Group C: China PR, Ecuador, Norway, USA
Group D: Canada, France, Nigeria, Samoa
Group E: Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Korea Republic, Spain
Group F: Japan, New Zealand, Paraguay, Zambia
With defending champions Korea DPR in Group B and traditional powerhouses like the USA, Brazil, Spain, and Japan spread across the other groups, this promises to be one of the most competitive editions yet.