The Nigeria U-17 women’s national football team, known as the Flamingos, played to a 1-1 draw against Mexico in a pre-FIFA World Cup test game held in Santiago on October 8, 2024. This match served as crucial preparation for the Flamingos ahead of their upcoming tournament in the Dominican Republic.
The Flamingos took the lead in the first half when Faridat Abdulkareem scored in the 33rd minute. However, Mexico responded quickly, equalizing just three minutes later in the 42nd minute. Despite both teams creating several scoring opportunities in the second half, neither could find the back of the net again, resulting in a draw.
Coach Bankole Olowookere expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, noting that the match provided valuable experience and insight as they gear up for the World Cup. “We showed resilience and determination against a strong opponent,” he said.
The Flamingos are currently in Santiago for an intensive training camp that began on October 3. Their schedule includes additional friendly matches to further hone their skills before the World Cup kicks off on October 16.
Nigeria is placed in Group A alongside hosts Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and New Zealand. The team will begin their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on October 16 at Estadio Cibao. They will then face Ecuador three days later and conclude their group stage matches against the Dominican Republic on October 23 at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez.
This year marks the Flamingos’ participation in every edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup since its inception in 2008, with the exception of the 2018 edition. The team has previously reached the quarterfinals but made headlines in 2022 by defeating the USA to advance to that stage.
As they prepare for this prestigious tournament, hopes are high that the Flamingos will make a significant impact and continue to elevate Nigerian women’s football on the global stage.
