Nigeria’s U17 girls’ football team, the Flamingos, are set to compete in the WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup in Ghana, with head coach Bankole Olowookere naming a 20-player squad for the two-week tournament starting Thursday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The squad features three goalkeepers, seven defenders, three midfielders, and seven forwards.
Among them are FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup scorers Shakirat Moshood and Harmony Chidi, alongside goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, defenders Taiwo Adegoke and Ayomide Ibrahim, midfielder Faridat Abdulwahab, and forwards Peace Effiong and Mary Lucky Nkpa.
The Flamingos are drawn in Group B, where they will face Niger Republic and Ivory Coast. Hosts Ghana will compete in Group A against Benin Republic following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso and Togo.
Reflecting on the team’s preparations, Olowookere emphasised the importance of building on the Flamingos’ recent performances.
At the last FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup held in the Dominican Republic, the Nigerian girls impressed by scoring nine goals in the group stage before bowing out to the United States in the quarterfinals.
The coach has expressed confidence in the selected squad, highlighting their potential to make a strong impact in Ghana.
The Flamingos will be aiming not only to win the WAFU B Cup but also to fine-tune their development for future international tournaments.
Full Squad for WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup:
Goalkeepers:
Christiana Uzoma (Edo Queens)
Elizabeth Boniface (Sunshine Queens)
Sylvia Echefu (Bayelsa Queens)
Defenders:
Rokibat Azeez (New Generation Academy)
Taiwo Adegoke (Remo Stars Ladies)
Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels)
Ayomide Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies)
Prisca Nwachukwu (Heartland Queens)
Oluwatoyin Olowookere (Ekiti Queens)
Oghenemairo Obruthe (Lagos City)
Midfielders:
Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens)
Waliat Rotimi (Nakamura Academy)
Farida Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons)
Forwards:
Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers)
Peace Effiong (Rivers Angels)
Mary Nkpa (Abia Angels)
Aisha Animashaun (Naija Ratels)
Mary Mamudu (Edo Queens)
Precious Oscar (Bayelsa Queens)
Janet Akekoromowei (Nasarawa Amazons)