The Nigeria’s Under-17 Female Football Team, Flamingoes, will depart for South Africa on Wednesday for the first leg of their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The Flamingoes are playing a qualifying fixture against South Africa’s U-17 girls, known as Bantwana.

This is contained in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) website, on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the website, the match will take place on Saturday, March 8, at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital.

The kick-off time is 3 pm, South African time (2 p.m. Nigerian time).

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Kenyan officials to officiate the match.

Josephine Wanjiku will serve as the referee, assisted by Mary Njoroge, Elizabeth Njoroge, and Juma Awino.

Cindy Dludlu from eSwatini will be the match commissioner, while Moroccan Khadija Rezzag will serve as the referee assessor.

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has selected 19 players for the match, including goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, defenders Hannah Ibrahim and Jumai Adebayo.

The midfielders are Shakirat Moshood and Muinat Rotimi, while the forwards are Harmony Chidi and Chisom Nwachukwu.

The Flamingoes, who are 2022 FIFA World Cup Bronze medallists, will play the return leg at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo, on Saturday, March 15.

The winner on aggregate will progress to the third round of the qualification campaign.

The 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Morocco from October 17 to November 8.

Africa will be presenting five teams (including host nation Morocco) at the finals, which has been expanded to a 24-nation championship.

(NAN)