Nigeria’s U-17 girls, nicknamed Flamingoes, have arrived in Namibia ahead of Friday’s 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against that country’s Baby Gladiators.
Coach Bala Nikyu, his assistants, 18 players and backroom staff, alongside a couple of administrative officials, flew aboard a South African Airways airplane from Lagos to Johannesburg before connecting another South African Airways flight to Windhoek, on Wednesday morning.
The Flamingoes have never failed to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals since the event was launched in New Zealand in 2008. They thrashed the Baby Gladiators 4-0 in the first leg in Abuja penultimate weekend.
Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who scored two of the four goals in the first leg, said: “We are confident that we will progress into the last round of the qualifiers. Though, we will not under-rate the Baby Gladiators.
“Our Coaches have been telling us to forget the result of the first leg and play the second leg match as if we lost the first leg. Our spirit is high and we will do the country proud.”
Officials of the Namibia Football Association have confirmed that the second leg match will take place at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, starting from 4pm Namibia time (3pm Nigeria time).
The winner of this fixture will play South Africa’s U-17 girls, who have reached the final round of the qualification series following the withdrawal of Zambia.
This year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will take place in Jordan between 30th September and 21st October.
18 FLAMINGOES FOR BATTLE OF WINDHOEK
Goalkeepers: Cynthia Nnadozie, Nimot Ajayi
Defenders: Esther Adeboye, Joy Duru, Patience Dike, Onyinyechi Ibe, Ijeoma Kenneth
Midfielders: Ramat Abdulkareem, Peace Efih, Precious Oyagbarh, Christy Ucheibe, Folashade Ijamilusi
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade, Cynthia Aku, Yetunde Fajobi, Rejoice Ikoyo, Kikelomo Olaiya, Chidinma Okeke
