Algeria’s U-17 women’s national team head coach, Abdenor Mira, has expressed optimism ahead of their much-anticipated clash against Nigeria’s Flamingos, asserting that his team is fully motivated and ready to fight for a positive result.
The two nations will face off today, Saturday, in the first leg of the final qualifying round for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, with the match scheduled to hold at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
While Nigeria’s Flamingos enter the tie as overwhelming favourites due to their impressive pedigree at youth level, Mira insists that his team is not in Ikenne just to participate—they are in it to compete.
“We are on the ground in Nigeria after our deserved qualification against Tunisia and the second round against Botswana,” Mira said in a pre-match press conference.
“We do not compare ourselves to Nigeria, but we are determined after this motivation of two qualifiers. It is the third qualifying round for the World Cup. My players are aware of the mission that awaits them—they will give their all.”
Flamingos Carry Weight of Expectations
The Nigerian U-17 girls, under the leadership of Bankole Olowookere, will look to build on their rich history and dominant run in African youth football. The Flamingos have consistently qualified for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and famously finished third in the 2022 edition held in India—Africa’s best-ever finish in the competition.
Olowookere’s team has been in camp for several weeks, engaging in intense tactical drills, training matches, and physical conditioning to ensure peak performance for the crucial encounter.
“We know what is at stake and the girls are fully prepared,” Coach Olowookere said in a media briefing.
“We are not underestimating Algeria. They’ve shown resilience in their past matches, but we are playing at home, and our goal is to get a commanding result before the second leg.”
The Flamingos eliminated Burkina Faso in the previous round with an aggregate 6-0 win and are yet to concede a goal in the qualifiers—a statistic that highlights the team’s defensive solidity and attacking efficiency.
Algeria’s Road to the Final Round
Algeria reached the final round of qualifiers after an impressive campaign that saw them defeat Botswana and Tunisia in earlier stages. While not traditionally seen as a women’s football powerhouse, Mira’s side has shown remarkable discipline, tactical improvement, and a growing belief that they can challenge the continent’s elite.
Their victory over Tunisia, particularly, was seen as a breakthrough moment and has boosted morale heading into their toughest test yet—against the third-best team in the world.
“We’re not coming here to surrender,” said Algeria captain Amira Hachemi.
“We’ve trained hard and worked as a team. Nigeria is strong, but we believe in our dream of reaching the World Cup.”
Match Venue and Kickoff
The match will take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, a state-of-the-art facility that has become a hub for youth football development in Nigeria. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 PM local time, with fans expected to fill the stands in support of the home team.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced free entry to encourage mass attendance and motivate the Flamingos to deliver a memorable performance.
What’s at Stake
The winner of the two-legged tie between Nigeria and Algeria will secure one of Africa’s three tickets to the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted by the Dominican Republic.
The second leg will be played in Algeria in a fortnight, and Nigeria will aim to secure a sizeable advantage in today’s home fixture to ease the pressure ahead of the return leg.
“We want to score goals, but more importantly, we want to dominate the game from start to finish,” said Flamingos forward Peace Effiong, one of the standout players in the qualifiers so far.
“This is a huge opportunity for us to represent Nigeria on the world stage again, and we are not going to let it slip.”
Youth Football and the Bigger Picture
Nigeria continues to lead the way in women’s youth football across the African continent, thanks to strong domestic scouting, grassroots programs, and experienced coaching staff. The Flamingos’ consistent presence at the global level has made them a beacon of inspiration for young girls across the country.
Meanwhile, Algeria’s improved performance in the qualifiers highlights the growing investment in women’s football across North Africa, a trend that CAF (Confederation of African Football) has welcomed in recent years.
CAF has reiterated its commitment to expanding opportunities for young female footballers and increasing the visibility of women’s football competitions through broadcast partnerships and digital platforms.
Final Words Ahead of Kickoff
Coach Mira concluded his pre-match statement with a rallying message for his players:
“We know the odds are against us, but we came here with courage, belief, and determination. The dream of reaching the World Cup is alive, and we will fight for it.”
Coach Olowookere, on his part, emphasized the importance of focus and professionalism:
“We respect Algeria, but we are here to do a job. We’ve prepared well and we want to take full advantage of playing at home. The target is simple: win and qualify.”
As the Flamingos prepare to take the field today, all eyes will be on Ikenne to see if Nigeria can take another step toward securing a place in the Dominican Republic—or if Algeria can spring a surprise in this high-stakes encounter.
