Nigeria‘s U-17 women’s football team, known as the Flamingos, are gearing up for their opening match against New Zealand in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The tournament, hosted in the Dominican Republic, kicks off on October 16, 2024, and this highly anticipated match is scheduled for 16:00 AST (Atlantic Standard Time).
The Flamingos, who finished third in the 2022 edition of the tournament, are considered strong contenders. They qualified for this year’s World Cup by defeating Liberia 6-1 on aggregate, with a 4-1 victory in the first leg and a 2-0 win in the second leg in Abuja. Harmony Chidi, the top goalscorer in African qualifying with 12 goals in six games, will be a key player to watch.
New Zealand, represented by the Young Football Ferns, have a tough opening match ahead. Led by head coach Alana Gunn, they qualified for the World Cup by winning the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship last year. The team includes several players who were part of the Championship-winning side in Fiji, such as Mikaela Bangalan, Laura Bennett, and Katie Pugh.
The match will be played at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, and all of New Zealand’s group matches can be watched live and free on FIFA+. The Young Football Ferns will face further group games against the tournament hosts, Dominican Republic, and tournament debutants Ecuador.
This encounter promises to be an exciting start to the tournament, with Nigeria’s attack-minded strategy under head coach Bankole Olowookere pitted against New Zealand’s balanced approach. The match is expected to showcase the skills and determination of both teams as they vie for a spot in the next round of the competition.
