FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: Flamingos, the Flame of Hope for Africa

Posted by: NE Posted date : 25 September 2012 at 3:48 PM 3 views In: Sport

Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria are representing Africa at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup that kicked off September 22 in Azerbaijan. The competition is expected to run till October 13 of this year. While Nigeria are the continent’s best hopes , 2008 champs, North Korea, 2010 winners, South Korea, Germany and the USA are tipped to be the favourites of this year’s edition. The Flamingos are the only African team to have reached the Quarter finals. In 2010, they were booted out of the competition at a tough quarter final game against South Korea that ended 6-5, after prolongation, in favour of the Asians who went ahead to claim the trophy. Given their experience, the Nigerians could easily make it pass the group stage from Group A where they are pooled with Canada, Colombia and Azerbaijan.

Like their powerful West African counterparts, Ghana would be honouring the rendez-vous for the third time in a row. They Black Maidens hope to make a fine show of their talent this time as they have made it pass the group stage. However, they are not going to have easy in a group that features two favourites, North Korea and USA, and one outsider, France. The Gambians, on their part, are taking part in their maiden World Cup competition with prudence and humility. Fatou Darboe and her teammates would put their strengths to the test against some of the best teams in the world. As a matter of fact they have already been tested in their first game against North Korea which ended in a humiliating 11-0 defeat from the Asians.

African Teams’ fixtures

Group A

22 September: Nigeria 1 Canada 1

25 September: Nigeria – Azerbaijan

29 September: Nigeria – Colombia

Group B

22 September: DRP Korea 11 Gambia 0

25 September: Gambia – USA

29 September: Gambia- France

GroupD

23 September: Ghana – Germany

26 September: Ghana – Uruguay