The Flamingos will depart for Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday ahead of their second-round FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Guinea. The first leg will take place on Saturday, 23 May, in Abidjan. The return leg comes on Saturday, 30 May, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.
Coach Akeem Busari has been preparing a 36-player squad in Ikenne. That number will be trimmed before departure, with only the selected group traveling for the crucial away fixture.
The team began its final preparations after arriving in Ikenne last Sunday. Their readiness was underlined by a convincing 5-0 victory over Lakeside Queens FA in a friendly match.
Why the venue moved to Côte d’Ivoire
Guinea will host the first leg at a makeshift home ground in Abidjan. The West Africans were unable to stage the match on home soil due to the lack of an approved venue. The switch to neutral territory does not alter Nigeria’s objective. A positive result away from home will boost their chances of advancing to the next round.
Nigeria’s pedigree at this level
The Flamingos remain one of Africa’s strongest youth women’s teams. They are the only African side to have qualified for eight of nine editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 2008. Their best finish came in 2022, when they secured a bronze medal in India. That pedigree places the weight of expectation firmly on Busari’s young squad.
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The road ahead
The aggregate winner over both legs will advance to the next round of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. The tournament will be hosted from 17 October to 7 November 2026. Only four African teams will ultimately qualify for the global tournament, joining the host nation as representatives of the continent.
For the Flamingos, the journey to a record-extending 10th World Cup qualification begins now. The first stop is Abidjan. The destination is Morocco.
