Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, will be hoping to continue their resurgence when they face Italy this evening in Rabat, Morocco, in a crucial quarterfinal qualification clash.
After a shaky start to their campaign, the Flamingos reignited their hopes with an emphatic 4–0 victory over Samoa in their final group game, a result that helped erase memories of their earlier 1–4 loss to Canada and a narrow 0–1 defeat to France.
The win not only lifted spirits among their supporters but also showcased notable improvement in Coach Bankole Olowookere’s side, whose early performances had drawn criticism for lack of coordination and sharpness.
Tonight’s encounter, scheduled for Pitch 2 of the Football Academy Mohamed VI, will test Nigeria’s newfound confidence against an Italian side that has been one of the standout teams of the tournament.
Italy stormed through Group A with three consecutive wins — a pulsating 4–3 triumph over Brazil, a 3–1 win against host Morocco, and a dominant 3–0 victory over Costa Rica, to finish with maximum points.
Led by prolific forward Giulia Galli, who tops the goal-scoring chart with five goals, the Italians are brimming with confidence as they aim to extend their unbeaten run.
For Nigeria, who qualified as one of the best third-placed teams, the mission is clear: to prove their resilience and reaffirm their pedigree in women’s youth football.
A win tonight would not only secure a quarterfinal berth but also signal that the Flamingos are back where they belong, among the world’s best.
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