Harry Awurumibe in Live in Cairo, Egypt
Even with four goals cushion, Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team, Flamingos safely arrived in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, early morning of Friday ahead of the Saturday’s return leg encounter against their Egyptian opponents for a place in the last round of African qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022.
Nigeria won the first first leg tie at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja 4-0 last weekend, courtesy of a brace by Omowunmi Bello and a goal each from Opeyemi Ajakaiye and Miracle Usani.
But the Flamingos who departed Abuja on Thursday aboard Ethiopian Airline for Cairo for the return match slated for Saturday at the Petrosports Stadium, Cairo, are poised to defeat the Egyptians at their backyard.
The Nigerian girls are expected to face the winner of the Ethiopia versus South Africa match over two legs for the final round of the qualifiers where Africa’s three representatives in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in India from 11th – 30th October 11 to 30, 2022.
Meanwhile, Flamingos Head Coach, Olowookere Bankole has told Prompt News Online exclusively that he has the assurances of his players that they will not fail Nigerians in Cairo.
Said he: ” My players are mentally and physically prepared to face our Egyptian opponents. I believe we have what it takes to grind out victory away from on Saturday night in Cairo”.
Bankole also revealed that the Flamingos are ready for any tricks the North Africans will employ in the match as it is expected that the host team will not want to be beaten without putting up a strong resistance hence he has advised the Flamingos not to be complacent in the crucial match.
The players Bankole took to Egypt for the match are:
Goalkeepers:
Faith Omilana
Linda Jiwuaku
Defenders:
Blessing Sunday
Comfort Folorunsho
Tumininu Adeshina
Olamide Oyinlola
Josephine Edafe
Miracle Usani
Confidence Nwoha
Mistura Yusuf
Midfielders:
Blessing Emmanuel
Taiwo Afolabi
Chidera Okenwa
Joy Igbokwe
Forwards:
Omowunmi Bello
Mercy Itimi
Alvine Dah-Zossu
Anastasia Atume
Opeyemi Ajakaiye
Yetunde Ayantosho
Judith Okah
Bisola Mosaku
Raheemot Adebayo
