Head Coach of the Nigeria Women U-17 National Team, Bankole Olowookere has called 35 players to the camp to begin preparations for the 7th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup set to hold in India from 11th – 30th October 2022
The Flamingos started a qualifying campaign for the championship two years ago, defeating their Guinean counterparts home and away, before the global coronavirus pandemic compelled world football –governing body, FIFA to jettison the process and forget the 2020 competition altogether.
However, just like it has done with the U20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA retained the designated host nation for the 2020 event, India as host for the 2022 finals. The championship will hold from 11th-30th October. It will be the second time that India host a FIFA tournament after the men’s 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and the first time that India host a FIFA women’s football tournament.
The Flamingos kickstarted their chase for a ticket to this year’s FIFA U17 World Cup finals with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over DR Congo in the second round, first leg encounter in Kinshasa in March 2022. A few days later, the return leg saw Nigeria’s U17 girls whip their counterparts 5-0 in Benin City taking the Flamingos to an 8-0 aggregate win over the Central Africans.
Brimming with confidence, the girls went a notch higher and defeated the Egyptian girls 4-0 at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja in the final round of the African qualification and completing the rout a few days later to end the clash 6-0 on aggregate before the final rounds with Ethiopia.
The final round of qualifiers saw the Bankole Olowokeere tutored side win the first leg 1-0 away before playing an entertaining 0-0 draw at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja to end the campaign with 15 goals without conceding a single goal or recording a defeat.
Nigeria’s best outing at the competition is three quarter-final finishes in the 2010, 2012, and 2014 editions. Nigeria’s only absence was when Uruguay hosted in 2018.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Faith Omilana (Naija Ratels); Linda Jiwuaku (Confluence Queens); Jessica Chikamso (Rivers Angels); Uchechi Onyechere (Heartland Queens); Comfort Erhabor (UK-based)
Defenders: Miracle Usani (Abia Angels); Tumininu Adeshina (Naija Ratels); Iniobong Umanah (Nasarawa Amazons); Olamide Oyinlola (Naija Ratels); Confidence Nwora (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Delta Queens); Mamuzo Edafe (Rivers Angels); Immaculate Effiong (Abia Angels); Ekezie Onyedikachi (Heartland Queens); Blessing Sunday (Edo Queens); Marylin Essien (Rivers Angels)
Midfielders: Alima Alasse (IFK Goteborg, Sweden); Bisola Mosaku (Kazeem Eletu Queens); Blessing Emmanuel (Naija Ratels); Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Mary Aderemi (Bayelsa Queens); Chidera Okenwa (Abia Angels)
Forwards: Daniella Alali (LA Galaxy, USA); Tolulope Adubairo (Arsenal Women, England); Amarachi Ndudim (Abia Angels); Mary Lucky (Heartland Queens); Edidiong Etimi (Bayelsa Queens); Ijeoma Onweagba (Ibom Angels); Odinaka Odoh (Honey Badgers); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens); Aminat Bello (Naija Ratels); Alvine Dah-Zossu (Osun Babes); Kafayat Bashiru (Bayelsa Queens); Yetunde Ayantosho (Osun Babes); Udeme Ukoh (Ibom Angels)