Julius OkorieNigeria’s U-17 women’ side, the Flamingos, have been drawn against tough opponents France and Canada in this year’s U-17 FIFA Women’s World cup billed for Morocco.
The draw which was held late Wednesday, June 4, at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat, also pitched Flamingos against debutants Samoa, with the tournament set to run from 17 October to 8 November.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis will be the 9th edition of the tournament and will also be the first time that it will feature 24 teams, viz four from AFC, five from CAF (including Morocco), four from Concacaf, four from CONMEBOL, five from UEFA, and two from OFC.
READ ALSO:FIFA U-17 Women World Cup: Quarterfinalists Flamingos Back In Nigeria
Morocco will be the first country on the African continent and just the second Arab country to host the tournament.
Korea DPR are the current champions after breaking Spain’s hegemony in the 2024 edition. France, champions in 2012, are making their fourth appearance and are major contenders. Canada, returning for their eighth outing, will be hoping to better their best-ever finish of fourth place in 2018.
Samoa, one of four debutants, booked their ticket through the 2024 OFC U-16 Women’s Championship.
The Flamingos on their part are not new comers to this business as this marks their seventh appearance after missing only the 2018 edition.
Flamingos had struggled to break beyond the quarterfinal stage, falling short in 2010, 2012, and 2014. But the music changed for the young ladies in 2022 when they defeated the USA on penalties after a tense 1–1 draw to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
Nigeria secured their place in Morocco by seeing off Algeria and South Africa in the CAF qualifiers and will be aiming to better their historic third-place finish two years ago.
The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed sides, will proceed to the Round of 16.
Hosts Morocco, have their hands full, having been drawn in Group A against formidable opponents, Brazil, Italy, and Costa Rica, while holders Korea DPR will slug it out against Mexico, Cameroon and Netherlands.
Here Is The Full Draw pairings:
Group A: Brazil, Costa Rica, Italy, Morocco.
Group B: Cameroon, Korea DPR, Mexico, Netherlands.
Group C: China PR, Ecuador, Norway, USA.
Group D: Canada, France, Nigeria, Samoa.
Group E: Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Korea Republic, Spain.
Group F: Japan, New Zealand, Paraguay, Zambia.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
