Nigeria’s U-17 girls’ national team, the Flamingos, will take on Algeria in the third and final round of qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, following the North Africans’ emphatic victory over Botswana.
Algeria secured their spot in the decisive round with a 5-2 aggregate win. After suffering a 2-1 defeat in the first leg away, they responded with a dominant 4-0 victory in the return fixture at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in El Bouleïda on Sunday night.
The Flamingos, led by head coach Bankole Olowookere, also had an impressive run to the final round, defeating South Africa’s Bantwana 5-1 on aggregate. They claimed a 3-1 victory in Pretoria before sealing qualification with a 2-0 win in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday.
This final-round encounter presents a major test for Algeria, who have never qualified for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. In contrast, Nigeria remains Africa’s most successful team at this level, having participated in seven of the eight editions of the tournament since its inception in 2008.
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The first leg of the two-match tie will take place in Nigeria on April 17, with the return fixture scheduled for April 24 in Algeria. The winner on aggregate will secure a place at the World Cup in Morocco later this year.
Flamingos will hope return to the World Cup by knocking out Algeria.
Elsewhere in the qualifiers, Kenya advanced to the final round with a 4-0 aggregate win over Uganda and will now face Cameroon, who eased past Ethiopia with a 6-2 aggregate victory. Zambia also progressed after defeating Tanzania 4-0 and will take on Benin Republic, who dispatched DR Congo with a 5-0 aggregate win.
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Cote d’Ivoire produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the round, overturning a 3-1 first-leg loss to Burundi with a stunning 3-0 away win, progressing 4-3 on aggregate. They will now battle Guinea, who edged Sierra Leone in a thrilling 4-3 aggregate encounter.
