National Teams
Morocco 2025: South Africa land in Nigeria on Wednesday for Flamingo clash
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Ahead of Saturday’s return leg clash of 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers with Nigeria, the delegation of South Africa’s U17 girls, Bantwana, is scheduled to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday evening.
A brace by Harmony Chidi, which followed Shakirat Moshood’s goal, steered Nigeria to a 3-1 win over their hosts in Pretoria on Saturday, but the Bantwana have sounded a big warning that they will not be in Ikenne to lie down and be slaughtered.
Team captain Katleho Malebana, whose goal early in the second half raised the hopes of the Bantwana, before Chidi’s second and Nigeria’s third, has assured that the South Africans will contest every blade of the grass with their hosts at the Remo Stars Stadium on Saturday.
The return leg of the Second Round clash is scheduled to kick off by 4:00 pm at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun state.
CAF has appointed Senegal’s Aida Sy to serve as referee, while her compatriots Ndeye Aissa Ndiaye, Ndeye Sarr Ndiaye and Fatoumata Sall Toure will be in the roles of assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.
Ghanaian Naa Odofoley Nortey will be the commissioner while Agar Mezing from Cameroon will be the referee assessor.
The winner on aggregate will progress to the final round of the qualification series, with this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup taking place in Morocco, 17 October – 8 November. Africa will present 5 teams (including host nation Morocco) at the finals, which has been expanded to a 24-nation championship.
Nigeria and Ghana with bronze medals have Africa’s best record at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
