By Seyi Babalola
Nigeria’s U-17 female football team, the Flamingos, has been drawn in a tough group with France, Canada, and Samoa for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will begin later this year in Morocco.
The draw, which took place on Wednesday at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat, Morocco, sets up some exciting matches for the Nigerian girls.
France, a key challenger and 2012 winner, will be a difficult test for the Flamingos. Meanwhile, Samoa, making their debut in the tournament, should not be underestimated, as Coach Bankole Olowookere’s players must avoid complacency.
Canada, appearing for the eighth time, are experienced competitors at this level. Their best performance was a fourth-place finish in 2018, narrowly missing out on a medal. Known for their physicality and tactical discipline, the North Americans will pose a significant challenge.
The Flamingos earned their place in the tournament with a dominant qualification campaign, decisively defeating Algeria and South Africa during the CAF qualifiers, showcasing both quality and determination.
Their most notable success came at the 2022 edition in India, where they finally broke their quarterfinal barrier by defeating the USA on penalties after a 1–1 draw. This victory propelled them to the semi-finals and ultimately secured a third-place finish — their best-ever result in the competition.