Nigeria’s Flamingos have been drawn in Group A of the 2024 U17
FIFA Women’s World Cup. The West Africans are one of 16 teams who
will be vying to be crowned champions of the global showpiece.
Bankole Olowookere’s side were paired in the same group with
hosts Dominican Republic, Ecuador and New Zealand during Saturday’s
draw in Santo Domingo.
The Flamingos were dominant during the qualifying campaign,
where they defeated the Central African Republic (CAR) 12-0 on
aggregate and recorded another 7-1 aggregate victory over Burkina
Faso before a 6-1 aggregate win against Liberia saw them qualify
for a seventh
World Cup.
Having finished third in the last edition of the tournament in
2022, Olowookere and his side will be aiming to go one step
further, with Africa still yet to produce a world champion at this
level. The Flamingos are favourites to advance from their group,
though, having reached the knockout stage in four out of their six
participations in the U17 Women’s World Cup.
Kenya and Zambia join Nigeria as
Africa’s reps at U17 World Cup
While Nigeria are undoubtedly the most successful African team
at the U17 level, Kenya and Zambia will be the continent’s other
representatives in the tournament.
Kenya’s Junior Starlets are making their debut at the World Cup
but find themselves in a difficult group that contains England,
Mexico and two-time world champions Korea DPR. Zambia will also
have to navigate their way past their Group D opponents, which
consist of Brazil, Poland and Japan.
Meanwhile, defending champions Spain are in Group C, alongside
the USA, South Korea and Colombia, and would be aiming to achieve a
three-peat after winning the last two editions of the World
Cup.
The U17 Women’s World Cup will take place in the Dominican
Republic from October 16 to November 3.
See the full draw below.
Group A: Dominican Republic, Ecuador, New
Zealand, Nigeria
Group B: Spain, USA, South Africa, Columbia
Group C: Korea DPR, Mexico, Kenya, England
Group D: Japan, Poland, Brazil, Zambia
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