By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
To ensure that Nigeria’s U-17 women football team Flamingos qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ordered the team to remain in Abuja camp ahead of the final round matches against Ethiopia in a fortnight.
This is even as Head Coach Oloowokere Bankole has said he wants to create his own history by qualifying the Flamingos for the FIFA Women’s World Cup India 2022 slated for October.
The Victorious Flamingos who defeated their Egyptian opponents in the return leg third round last Saturday in Cairo returned to Nigeria on Sunday afternoon but was directed to resume training immediately.
NFF Acting Director of Competitions, Ms Ruth David told Prompt News Online exclusively that the federation is desirous of seeing the Flamingos following the foot steps of the Super Falcons and Falconets who have qualified for the 2022 Women African Cup of Nations (WACON) and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final in Costa Rica respectively.
According to her the NFF leadership in its wisdom has approved an extended camping period for the Flamingos to enable the team prepare adequately for the first leg of the final round qualifiers which comes up in two weeks between Ethiopia and Nigeria in Addis Ababa.
Meanwhile, Flamingos head coach has praised the federation for the initiative to extend the team’s camping in Abuja as it will enable him and his assistants to perfect the strategies to be used to defeat Ethiopia home and away.
Said he: “I welcome the idea of letting the girls to remain in camp ahead of our first leg match against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa very soon.
“The hard work starts now because I want to lead this group of girls to the FIFA Women’s World Cup final”.
Coach Bankole who is the Technical Adviser of Abuja-based top women’s football club-Naija Ratel said his target is to lead the Flamingos to pick FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022.
Coach Bankole is currently working with the 23 players he took to Cairo, the Egyptian capital to secure a 2-0 away victory at the weekend.
The Flamingos in camp:
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
