Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has selected attacking midfielder Shakirat Moshood, goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu, defender Jumai Adebayo and forward Queen Joseph among a squad of 21 players to fly Nigeria’s flag at this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals in Morocco.

The Flamingos arrived in Morocco’s commercial and industrial capital, Casablanca, on Wednesday, for the final phase of preparations for the competition, which will hold from October 17 to November 8.

Bankole, who led Nigeria to a bronze medal-finish at the 2022 edition of the competition in India, is confident that the class of 2025 has what it takes to go steps higher than his 2022 bronze winners.

Goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface, defenders Azeezat Oduntan and Christiana Sunday, midfielders Muinat Rotimi and Zainab Raji, and forwards Chisom Nwachukwu and Mariam Yahaya are also included.

The Flamingos have been drawn in Group D, alongside Canada, France, and Samoa. Nigeria will kick off their campaign against Canada on Sunday, October 19, before facing France three days later — both matches scheduled for 8.00 p.m. Nigerian time at the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 2) and Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 1) in the city of Sale.

Their final group stage encounter will be against Samoa on October 25, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. at the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 3) still in Sale.

Some of the players in the team are goalkeepers Elizabeth Boniface (Abia Angels); Onyinyechi Opara (Imo Strikers); and Sylvia Echefu (Bayelsa Queens), while the defenders are Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Jumai Adebayo (Rivers Angels); Azeezat Oduntan (FC Robo); Christiana Sunday (Imo Strikers); Nofisat Tijani (Youthful Talent 99); and Fatimoh Shuaib (Nasarawa Amazons).