Flamingos Pre-World Cup Friendlies: Nigeria U-17 Set to Face New Zealand and Paraguay in Final Warm-Ups

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have officially departed Abuja for Morocco, signaling the beginning of their final preparations for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The team, under the guidance of Head Coach Bankole Olowookere, is determined to build on their impressive performance from the last edition, where they reached the quarter-final stage.

Upon arrival in Casablanca, the Flamingos will immediately begin their final training phase with two crucial pre-tournament friendlies. These fixtures, which will serve as their ultimate test before the World Cup, are scheduled against New Zealand and Paraguay in what the Nigeria Football Federation describes as the team’s last opportunity to perfect tactics and assess match readiness.

The two games will be played in Casablanca on October 10 and October 14, respectively, before the team relocates to Rabat on October 15 to move into the official FIFA hotel. This transition will mark the shift from preparation mode to full competition focus as the countdown to kickoff continues.

The Flamingos head into Morocco in outstanding form after an impressive domestic preparation campaign. They played ten tune-up matches ahead of their departure, scoring forty-four goals and keeping a perfect defensive record without conceding. This remarkable streak reflects both their attacking efficiency and solid organization at the back, positioning them as strong contenders for the tournament.

Nigeria has been drawn into a competitive Group D alongside Canada, France, and Samoa. The team will open their campaign against Canada on October 19 in what promises to be an exciting start to their World Cup journey. The upcoming Flamingos Pre-World Cup Friendlies in Morocco are seen as vital opportunities to fine-tune strategy, build team chemistry, and strengthen confidence before taking on the world’s best in Rabat.