With just weeks to go before their crucial 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier, South Africa appear better prepared than Nigeria's Flamingos ahead of their two-legged showdown on March 8 and March 15, Soccernet.ng reports.
While both teams are training for the decisive clash, South Africa’s Bantwana have enjoyed a smoother build-up compared to Nigeria’s Flamingos, whose preparations have been disrupted by player availability issues.
South Africa’s U17 head coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo, has expressed satisfaction with her team’s training camp.
The Bantwana held an intensive week-long camp from February 16 to 22, fine-tuning their squad for the decisive fixtures.
Khumalo is determined to assemble a competitive squad capable of overcoming Nigeria and securing a third FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup appearance for South Africa.
The team is coming off an emphatic 21-2 aggregate victory over Gabon in the first round, and the coach believes they are on the right track.
“The camp went very well because the reason we were trying to reinforce the team is to get strong players, especially our midfield. We were trying to find strong players that can measure up against the upcoming opponent (Nigeria),” Khumalo told Safa.
CAF appoints Josephine Wanjiku as FIFA U17 Women's referee for next week's World Cup qualifier between Nigeria’s U17 girls Flamingos, and their South African's, Bantwana, at Pretoria.#soccerbytes #Worldcupqualifiers #CAF pic.twitter.com/iQxASwtY2G
— SoccerBytes (@SoccerBytes_) February 24, 2025
Despite some challenges during the camp, Khumalo revealed that four new players had been identified as potential additions to the final squad.
“Yeah, in Under-17 youth football, there are so many aspects of the game you need to improve on individually, and group-wise,” she explained.
“But what we discovered from this camp, it was the talent, and I was also happy in terms of the level of fitness of the players that we introduced in the team. They are all ready. Most of them are at their fitness level. As far as the conditioning is concerned, it was great. So, for the next game, I’m 100% happy because we will have a strong team to compete.”
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Nigeria's Flamingos struggling to assemble full squad
While South Africa are making the most of their time together, Nigeria’s Flamingos have faced hurdles in their preparations.
Head coach Bankole Olowookere admitted that bringing the full squad together has been challenging, with several players still engaged in league matches with their clubs.
“The turnout for the camp has been a bit low because some of the teams are still playing league matches,” Olowookere explained, as quoted by Sportsration.
“We are giving permission for the girls to finish their matches before returning to camp.”
Although the current camp is smaller than usual, the Nigerian coach remains optimistic.
“We have a few players in camp, but some are still on their way. It’s not a large camp, but it’s manageable, and we’re heading in a good direction,” he added.
Nigeria’s World Cup pedigree vs South Africa’s aspirations
While South Africa are looking to qualify for only their third FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup — having previously featured in 2010 and 2018 but exiting at the group stage — Nigeria boast a far stronger tournament history.
Nigeria beat USA 1-1 (4-3 on penalties) at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) February 8, 2024
Nigeria finished third in the tournament. pic.twitter.com/dFAXD2FAgr
The Flamingos have qualified for seven of the eight editions of the World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals five times. Their best performance came in 2022, when they claimed the bronze medal, by beating the United States in the third place match.
With South Africa’s well-structured preparation and Nigeria’s late scramble to assemble a full squad, the upcoming clash promises to be a fierce battle.
The Flamingos will need to rely on their experience and fighting spirit to overcome their well-drilled opponents and book their place at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Why does segments of the Nigerian press love to make up unnecessary controversy…
The South Africans are still screening for new players, while the Flamingos have been in camp since February 9 – a full week before the South Africans began their last screening camp to scout for players! Yes, not all of the NWFL players showed up at the Ikenne camp on Day 1 because of NWFL engagements (some did however) but all the NWFL players were released after the February 12 NWFL fixtures and joined camp promptly thereafter. In fact, while the South Africans were still holding their screening camp from February 16-22, the Flamingos were already playing practice games with probably the starting lineup (sans arguably Peace Effiong who’s just returned from injury).
BTW, while should always respect and never ever underestimate any of our opponents, let’s however keep the South African game(s) against Gabon in its proper perspective. That 12-1 second-leg victory was a FARCE of a game that should never have proceeded when the Gabonese had only TEN players available to play the game (after the Match Commissioner disqualified 8 of Gabon’s 18-player matchday squad for apparently being TOO YOUNG). That game therefore not only started 11 vs 10 but the Gabonese were subsequently progressively reduced to only SIX (6) players by the time the match was stopped in the second half! Only in Africa!!