Nigeria’s U-17 girls’ coach, Bankole Olowookere, is targeting the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup ticket against Algeria on Friday in the second leg or the last qualifying stage.
The Flamingos delivered an impressive performance to run out 4-0 winners in Ikenne last week, and Bankole is backing the girls to complete the job at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida (outside Algiers).
The match is expected to kick off at 8pm Nigerian time, and the hosts will be hoping to turn the tie around according to their coach.
The Flamingos have been motivated with financial support by Remo Stars owner, Honourable Kunle Soname, who has promised the sum of one million naira for every goal.
Similarly, Nigeria Football Federation President, Musa Gusau has also promised to give the team N2.5 million for every goal.
Olowookere highlighted the team’s objectives ahead of the encounter on Friday.
He said: “Our objective is clear – to win the FIFA World Cup ticket. That is the big motivation. Yet, we have been further incentivized by the monetary rewards. My girls will go all out on Friday night,”
The Confederation of African Football has selected Cameroonian official Marie Noelle Etong to be the referee, with her compatriots Marcelle Teikeu, and Innocentia Ntangti as assistant referee 1 and fourth official respectively, while Chadian Ngarassoum Victorine will be assistant referee 2.
Oumou Souleymane Kane from Mauritania will be commissioner and Sabelo Maphosa-Sibindi from Zimbabwe will be in the role of referee assessor.
Olowookere led the Flamingos to the quarter-finals of the 2024 edition in the Dominican Republic.
The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will now be held annually from the 2025 edition, which will be hosted by Morocco.
The 2025 edition will be the first to feature 24 teams.
