13th January, 2012
The U-17 women’s national team, nicknamed Flamingoes, have stepped up their preparation for the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Kenya.
CAF has confirmed that the first leg of the qualifying match will take place in Nairobi on 21 January, with the second leg due in Nigeria two weeks after.
On 2 January, the 31 players who scaled the screening hurdles supervised by Head Coach Peter Dedevbo, have resumed camping at the FIFA Technical Centre, Abuja.
“Nigeria is the biggest powerhouse in women’s football in Africa, and what I must tell you is that everyone expects us to not only defeat Kenya, but go ahead to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Nigerians also expect us to do well at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan.
“So, I must welcome you with a challenge of total commitment to the cause, and remind you of the importance of patriotism in everything you do”, said Dedevbo, who led the Class of 2010 that reached the World Cup quarter finals in Trinidad and Tobago.
Nigeria featured in the past two editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, starting with the inaugural edition in New Zealand in 2008.
On Thursday, the Flamingoes beat a Women Professional League club, Nasarawa Amazons 2-1 in a friendly game played at the FIFA Football Turf of the Technical Centre. The match was watched by General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Barrister Musa Amadu, Director of Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme and Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
Amadu said: “I think the technical crew of the team are doing a good job. The team are taking shape and I believe that come Saturday next week, we should get a good result in Nairobi.”
On Saturday, the Flamingoes will square up against another Women Professional League club, Confluence Queens of Lokoja at the FIFA Football Turf of the Technical Centre, Abuja. The Flamingoes are expected to fly to Nairobi aboard a Kenyan Airways flight next week.
—Francis Achi/Abuja