Nigeria’s U-17 female football team, the Flamingos, have been drawn in a challenging group alongside France, Canada, and Samoa for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup scheduled to kick off later this year in Morocco.

The draw, conducted at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, sets up intriguing contests for the Nigerian girls.

France, a major contender and 2012 champions, will be a stern test for the Flamingos. Meanwhile, Samoa, making their debut in the tournament, should not be underestimated, as Coach Bankole Olowookere’s team will need to guard against complacency.

Canada, appearing for the eighth time, are experienced competitors at this level. Their best performance was a fourth-place finish in 2018, narrowly missing out on a medal. Known for their physicality and tactical discipline, the North Americans will pose a significant challenge.

The Flamingos earned their place in the tournament with a dominant qualification campaign, decisively defeating Algeria and South Africa during the CAF qualifiers, showcasing both quality and determination.

Their most notable success came at the 2022 edition in India, where they finally broke their quarterfinal barrier by defeating the USA on penalties after a 1–1 draw. This victory propelled them to the semi-finals and ultimately secured a third-place finish — their best-ever result in the competition.