The South African U17 Women’s National team (Bantwana) face one of their biggest battles as they go to war with their counterparts from Nigeria, the Flamingoes.
The two nations meet in the first leg second round of the 2025 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers scheduled for Saturday, 8 March at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, near Pretoria.
While Nigeria had a bye in the first round, Bantwana go into this match buoyed by the 21-2 victory against Gabon over two legs in January this year.
South Africa’s head coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo has warned her charges to be on guard and not concede against the Flamingoes who are seen as favourites.
The visitors recently played in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic and were knocked out in the quarterfinals by the USA. In the group stages, they had defeated New Zealand (4-1), Ecuador (4-0) and the hosts, Dominican Republic (1-0).
“Most of our work has been on defending, we saw them in a tournament in January, how good they are in attack. Remember we are playing at home, we cannot afford to concede, and we will do everything we can to maintain that as Nigeria is a team that has been to the World Cup, and they have a lot of experience,” Khumalo told SAFA.net ahead of the much-anticipated encounter.
“We will also try to attack because at the end of the day you can’t win the game if you don’t create opportunities to score.”
The Flamingoes have already arrived in South Africa as they prepare for this clash, and coach Bankole Olowookere will be hoping for a positive result before returning home for the reverse fixture.
The return leg will take place on Saturday, 15 March at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Nigeria.
The overall winner will proceed to the third and final round where either Botswana or Algeria lie in wait in April.
South Africa is making their third attempt to go to the FIFA World Cup after their previous appearances in 2010 in Trinidad and Tobago as well as in 2018 in Uruguay.
SA U17 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM VS NIGERIA:
- Samkelisiwe Mthembu – JVW FC
- Sphemelele Angel Zibula – SAFA ACADEMY
- Dakalo Zinhle Mafumo – SAFA ACADEMY
- Bonolo Mokoma – JVW FC
- Reese Kristin Egberink – RANDBURG FC
- Ntokozo Paradzayi – Hallelujah Zebra Force
- Naylene Morgan – SAFA ACADEMY
- Sethabile Kamwande – MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FC
- Michaela Agatha Swarts – MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FC
- Rethabile Elizabeth – MOLEFE SAFA ACADEMY
- Thorisho Mphelo – JVW FC
- Andiswa Zuma – DLALA NTOMBAZANA
- Courtney Jacobus – SAFA ACADEMY
- Busisiwe Mokoena – MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FC
- Tshiamo Kekana – UNIVERITY OF PRETORIA
- Katleho Malebana – MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FC
- Katlego Mohale – JVW FC
- Nomfundo Nothando Nzuza – SAFA ACADEMY
- Zoe October – SPURS WFC
- Leonay Cherryl Kock – SAFA ACADEMY
- Nobahle Mdelwa – UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG
- Khwezi Khoza – DURBAN LADIES
- Mmarita Merry Malatji – DZ MOVERS FC
NIGERIA U17 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM VS SOUTH AFRICA:
- Christiana Uzoma
- Onyinyechi Opara
- Hannah Ibrahim
- Jumai Adebayo
- Temilade Fafore
- Shavih Istifanus
- Taiwo Adegoke
- Shakirat Moshood
- Muinat Rotimi
- Azeezat Oduntan
- Philomena Ochanya
- Aishat Animashaun
- Elizabeth Boniface
- Queen Joseph
- Olamide Olanrewaju
- Chisom Nwachukwu
- Harmony Chidi
- Favour Iheagwaram
- Christiana Sunday
Morocco will play host to the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup from 17 October to 8 November in a tournament that has been expanded to 24 countries for the first time ever.
Africa has five slots at the event, including that of the home team. CAF has the same number of representatives as UEFA, while AFC, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL have four each, with OFC allotted two.
- CAF (Africa): 5 slots (including hosts Morocco)
- UEFA (Europe): 5 slots
- CONCACAF (North America, Central America and the Caribbean): 4 slots
- CONMEBOL (South America): 4 slots
- AFC (Asia): 4 slots
- OFC (Oceania): 2 slots
The 2025 competition will be the ninth edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, and will be played annually going forward.
Only five nations have lifted the trophy
PREVIOUS FIFA U17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP WINNERS:
2008: Korea DPR
2010: Korea Republic
2012: France
2014: Japan
2016: Korea DPR
2018: Spain
2022: Spain
2024: Korea DPR
2025: ???
By Matlhomola Morake
