Abuja: Nigeria's U-17 women's national team, the Flamingos, will depart Abuja in the early hours of Wednesday, en route to Morocco, as they begin the final preparations for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. The team is scheduled to arrive in Casablanca, Morocco's industrial and economic capital, where they will settle into camp before heading to Rabat for the tournament proper.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, in a statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF's Head of Communications, the Flamingos will intensify their build-up with two high-profile international friendlies against New Zealand on Friday and Paraguay on October 14. The team will then move into the official FIFA hotel in Rabat on October 15, where all participating teams will be housed for the competition.
The Flamingos have been drawn in Group D, alongside Canada, France, and Samoa. Nigeria will kick off their campaign against Canada on October 19, before facing France three days later, with both matches scheduled for 8 p.m. Nigerian time. Their final group stage encounter will be against Samoa on October 25, with kickoff set for 5 p.m.
Head Coach Bankole Olowookere's side heads into the tournament full of confidence, having played 10 tune-up matches, scoring 44 goals without conceding any. Their form in camp so far, coupled with a well-balanced squad, underscores their determination to go one step further than their quarter-final finish at the last edition in the Dominican Republic.