The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup begins in India today October 11, 2022, with 16 countries vying for the top prize.
The biennial competition for the world’s teenage girl-child was launched in New Zealand in 2008 but did not take place in the year 2020 as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Nigeria’s Flamingos are in Group B alongside the Germans, Chile and New Zealand for the competition, which ends October 30.
The quest to win the gong for the first time begins on Tuesday (today) when the Nigeria U17 women’s national team battle Germany in their first match at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Margao.
Both countries take to the Pandit Jawaharlal Stadium in Goa as from 8pm India time (4pm Nigeria time) in what is the second match of Group B, at the same time as hosts India take on USA at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in what is the official opening match of the competition.
Earlier, as from 12.30pm Nigeria time, Nigeria’s group B opponents Chile and New Zealand will clash in Goa, while group A teams Morocco and Brazil also battle it out in Bhubaneswar.
Nigeria who were a three-time quarterfinalist (2010, 2012, 2014) have featured in every tournament since 2008, except the 2018 edition staged by Uruguay.
Speaking ahead of today’s cracker against Germany, the head coach of Nigeria’s U17 girls, the Flamingos, Bankole Olowookere, said his girls were ready to take on their European opponents, despite their favourites tag.
“We have been watching the Germans closely and strategising, we have equal legs on the field of play.”
Morocco and Tanzania are the other countries that will fly Africa’s flag in India.
The U-17 tournament has produced stars like Clàudia Pina, Rasheedat Ajibade, Vera Ihezuo, and a whole lot of others.
Who’s going to be the next star this year!?
MOLATsportgist 