Flamingos Ready as South Africa’s Bantwana Arrive in Lagos

Nigeria’s U17 women’s team, the Flamingos, are intensifying their preparations ahead of their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying second leg clash against South Africa’s Bantwana. The South African delegation is set to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday evening for the crucial encounter, which will take place on Saturday at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

The Flamingos head into the match with a 3-1 advantage from the first leg in Pretoria, thanks to a brace from Harmony Chidi and a goal from Shakirat Moshood. However, South Africa’s team captain, Katleho Malebana who scored in the first leg has vowed that the Bantwana will put up a strong fight and contest every moment of the game.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 4 PM, with Senegalese referee Aida Sy officiating, alongside assistant referees Ndeye Aissa Ndiaye and Ndeye Sarr Ndiaye. Ghana’s Naa Odofoley Nortey will serve as the match commissioner, while Cameroon’s Agar Mezing will assess the referees.

The winner on aggregate will advance to the final round of the qualification series, with a place at the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco at stake. This year’s tournament, scheduled for 17 October to 8 November, will feature 24 teams, with Africa being represented by five nations, including hosts Morocco.

With high stakes and a determined opponent, Nigeria’s Flamingos continue their training sessions at the Remo Stars Institute, fully focused on securing qualification.

Editorial

The Flamingos stand on the brink of another FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup appearance, but their job is far from finished. Their 3-1 first-leg victory over South Africa’s Bantwana puts them in a strong position, yet football has repeatedly shown that no lead is truly safe.

For Nigeria, this is more than just a qualification match. It’s an opportunity to showcase the continued dominance of Nigerian women’s football at youth level. The Flamingos have built a strong reputation over the years, consistently qualifying for the tournament and producing players who go on to represent the Super Falcons. Maintaining this legacy requires not just talent, but also discipline and focus.

The Bantwana have made it clear they are not coming to Lagos just to fulfil a fixture. Their captain’s words underline their determination to overturn the deficit. This is where the Flamingos must step up—not just in attack, but also in game management. An early goal for Nigeria could deflate South Africa’s confidence, but conceding first could make things complicated.

With home support behind them and a history of excelling at this level, the Flamingos have everything in their favour. However, they must not underestimate their opponents. A place in the World Cup is on the line, and only a professional, composed performance will secure it.

Did You Know?

1. Nigeria’s Flamingos have qualified for every FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup since its inception in 2008.
2. The 2025 tournament in Morocco will be the first U17 Women’s World Cup to feature 24 teams instead of 16.
3. The Flamingos won bronze at the 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, marking their best-ever finish in the competition.
4. Nigeria’s top scorer in the 2022 edition was Opeyemi Ajakaye, who played a key role in their historic podium finish.
5. The Flamingos’ best-ever goal tally at a single U17 Women’s World Cup was 13 goals, achieved in the 2014 tournament in Costa Rica.