Izuchukwu Okosi
The world football governing body, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has ordered that the Burundi versus Nigeria game in the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round, first leg match be moved to Dar es Salaam in neighbouring Tanzania.
FIFA has declared the pitch in Bujumbura unfit to host the qualifier and thus moved the fixture to the Azam Stadium Complex in Dar es Salaam.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe venue was where the Falconets played a 1-1 draw with their Tanzanian counterparts in the last round, before edging the Tanzanians 2-1 in Abuja to reach this stage.
FIFA also clarified that following the expansion of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup to a 24-team tournament (from the 16-team event that it was at the last edition in Costa Rica last year), and the granting of two more slots to Africa, the fixture between Nigeria and Burundi will be the final qualifying round, with the winner over two picks picking up a ticket to Colombia.
Meanwhile, The Confederation of African Football has named South African official, Nonjabulo Nonhle Ndlela as referee for the first leg fixture scheduled for Sunday, 14th January 2024, with her compatriots Maneo Evodia Tau and Nandipha Menze as first and second assistant referees respectively.
Nteboheleng Theresia Setoko from Lesotho will be the fourth official.
For the return leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 20th January 2024, Tunisian referee Asma Chouchane will be the man in the middle, with her compatriots Houda Afine, Nesrine Ouertatani and Emna Ajbouni as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.
Christine Ziga from Ghana and Fadouma Dia from Senegal will serve as commissioner and referee assessor respectively.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
