Flamingos of Nigeria head coach Bankole Olowookere has named 21 players, with Taiwo Afolabi as captain, in his final squad for this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
The competition is scheduled for October 16 to November 3 in two cities: Santiago de los Caballeros and Santo Domingo.
Harmony Chidi and Peace Effiong are among the players in the Nigeria squad tipped to set the competition alight.
Chidi scored 13 of the Flamingos’ record-setting 25 goals in the African qualifying series, as the 2022 bronze medallists breezed past Central African Republic, Burkina Faso and Liberia in the continental campaign.
Captain Afolabi will lead the midfield, alongside Faridat Abdulwahab, Shakirat Moshood and Ayomide Rotimi, while first-choice goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma will have Sylvia Echefu and Elizabeth Boniface as her understudies.
Taiwo Adegoke leads six other defenders, with Chidi and Effiong among the seven forwards.
The Flamingos will face hosts Dominican Republic, Ecuador and New Zealand in Group A of the tournament.
The Flamingos delegation will depart Nigeria aboard a Turkish Airlines flight on Tuesday for a two-week training tour in Santo Domingo, capital city of the Dominican Republic, ahead of the commencement of the tournament.
FLAMINGOS FIFA U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP SQUAD
Goalkeepers:
Christiana Uzoma (Edo Queens); Elizabeth Boniface (Sunshine Queens); Sylvia Echefu (Confluence Queens)
Defenders:
Prisca Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers); Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels); Taiwo Adegoke (Remo Stars Ladies); Rokibat Azeez (New Generation Academy); Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Vivian Ekezie (Heartland Queens); Ololade Isiaka (Abia Angels)
Midfielders:
Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Faridat Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons); Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens); Muinat Rotimi (Nakamura Football Academy)
Forwards:
Oghenemairo Obruthe (City Sports); Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers); Kudirat Arogundade (Green Foot); Ramotalahi Kareem (Honey Badgers); Aishat Animashaun (Naija Ratels); Peace Effiong (Rivers Angels); Blessing Ifitezue (Delta Queens)
GROUPINGS
Group A: Dominican Republic, Ecuador, New Zealand, Nigeria
Group B: Spain, USA, Korea Republic, Colombia
Group C: Korea DPR, Mexico, Kenya, England
Group D: Japan, Poland, Brazil, Zambia
