Morocco 2026: Flamingos off to Abidjan for clash with Guinea

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria’s U17 girls, the Flamingos, will depart for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday morning as preparations enter the final stretch ahead of their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying clash against Guinea.
The team, led by Head Coach Akeem Busari, is expected to leave Lagos aboard an ASKY Airlines flight, with a stopover in Lomé, Togo, before arriving in Abidjan. The first-leg encounter against Guinea, scheduled for Saturday, 23rd May, forms part of the second-round qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup set to hold in Morocco later this year.
For close to a month, the Flamingos have remained in intensive camping, first in Abuja before moving to Ikenne, Ogun State, where the technical crew continued tactical drills, fitness sessions, and assessment games aimed at shaping the squad ahead of the crucial fixture. The preparations have also included a series of friendly matches that offered clear insight into the team’s attacking strength and growing chemistry.
The Flamingos recorded emphatic victories over Generation Next, Nazareth Queens, Solo Wonder Babes, Lakeside Queens FA, and YAFA U-15, while also playing out a competitive draw against Real Rising Stars SC. Beyond the scorelines, camp observers have pointed to the growing intensity and focus within the squad as the qualifiers approach. Training sessions under Busari and his assistants have largely centered around movement off the ball, pressing, quick transitions, and composure in the final third, with competition for places remaining high across the squad.
The trip to Côte d’Ivoire now signals the beginning of the final phase of preparations as Nigeria seeks another appearance at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup. Having won bronze at the 2022 edition in India, expectations remain high around the Flamingos, and the coaching crew will hope the weeks of preparation translate into a strong first-leg performance against Guinea on May 23.