By Daily Sports Nigeria on April 19, 2025

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team coach, Bankole Olowookere, says the team is targeting a convincing victory over Algeria in the first leg of their final FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying match which will be played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Saturday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Nigeria enter this clash as heavy favourites and the Flamingos hope to make that count by taking a firm grip on the tie before the return leg in Algeria next week.

Coach Olowookere has urged the Flamingos to maintain focus and intensity and go all out to dominate the North Africans.

“The road to Morocco 2025 is almost complete, and we want to reduce the pressure of the return leg by securing a big win at home,” Olowookere told thenff.com ahead of the match.

“We have been working very hard to correct the lapses noticed in our last matches (against South Africa), and we believe we are in good form to achieve a handsome win here and then go all out in the second leg in Algeria.”

The Flamingos are Africa’s most successful side at U-17 level, having qualified for seven of the eight U-17 Women’s World Cup tournaments since 2008.

Olowookere led the team to a bronze medal finish in 2022 in India – the country’s and Africa’s best finish at the tournament.

Before then, they reached the quarter-finals five times.

The coach hopes to recreate history with another set of players which includes goal machine Harmony Chidi, Shakirat Moshood, and Aishat Animashaun.

“We have to keep our feet on the ground and keep working harder, bonding better and aiming higher. Our mission is to pick the FIFA World Cup ticket, and go to Morocco to make Nigeria proud.”

The return leg is set for April 25 at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida, with the aggregate winner booking a ticket to Morocco 2025.

This year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Morocco from October 17 to November 8, with Africa to present five teams (including host nation Morocco) at the finals, which has been expanded to a 24-nation championship.

Source Punch Ng

Posted April 19, 2025

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