Morocco 2026: Flamingos Depart for Abidjan Ahead of Guinea Clash
By Core Reporters
Nigeria’s U-17 girls, the Flamingos, will depart for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Wednesday morning as preparations enter the final phase ahead of their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying clash against Guinea.
The team, led by Head Coach Akeem Busari, is scheduled to leave Lagos aboard an ASKY Airlines flight with a stopover in Lomé, Togo, before arriving in Abidjan. The first-leg encounter against Guinea is billed for Saturday, May 23, as part of the second-round qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The Flamingos have spent close to a month in intensive camping, initially in Abuja before relocating to Ikenne, Ogun State, where the technical crew intensified tactical drills, fitness routines and assessment matches aimed at fine-tuning the squad for the crucial fixture.
Preparations also featured a series of friendly games that highlighted the team’s attacking quality and growing cohesion. The Flamingos recorded impressive victories over Generation Next, Nazareth Queens, Solo Wonder Babes, Lakeside Queens FA and YAFA U-15, while also settling for a competitive draw against Real Rising Stars SC.
Beyond the results, camp observers noted the increasing intensity, discipline and focus within the squad as the qualifiers draw closer. Training sessions under Busari and his assistants have largely concentrated on off-the-ball movement, pressing, quick transitions and composure in the final third, with strong competition for places across the team.
The trip to Côte d’Ivoire signals the beginning of the final countdown as Nigeria seeks another appearance at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Having secured a historic bronze medal at the 2022 edition in India, expectations remain high for the Flamingos, with the coaching crew hoping the extensive preparations will produce a strong first-leg outing against Guinea. 23.
