The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Kenyan referee Josephine Wanjiku to officiate Nigeria’s U17 women’s team, the Flamingos, as they take on South Africa’s Bantwana in a crucial FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier in Pretoria, Footynaija.com reports.
The first leg of this second-round encounter is scheduled for Saturday, 8th March, at 3pm South Africa time (2pm Nigeria) at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.
While Nigeria, bronze medallists at the 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, received a bye into this round, South Africa emphatically dispatched Gabon 21-2 on aggregate, winning 12-1 away before completing the rout with a 9-1 victory at home.
Joining Wanjiku on officiating duties are fellow Kenyans Mary Njoroge (Assistant Referee 1), Elizabeth Njoroge (Assistant Referee 2), and Juma Lucy Awino (Fourth Official). Cindy Barbara Dludlu from eSwatini will serve as the match commissioner, while Moroccan Khadija Rezzag has been assigned as the referee assessor.
The return leg is set for Saturday, 15th March, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, Nigeria. The winner on aggregate will progress to the third round of qualifiers, moving one step closer to a spot at the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
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This year marks the tournament’s expansion to 24 teams and its transition into an annual competition, with Africa allocated five slots, including host nation Morocco.
The Flamingos, who reached the quarter-finals at last year’s tournament in the Dominican Republic, have been preparing for this clash at their training camp in Ikenne-Remo.