Flamingos Face Canada, France, and Samoa in U-17 World Cup Draw

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, have been placed in a challenging Group D alongside Canada, France, and Samoa for the upcoming 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The draw, which determined the fixtures for the tournament’s ninth edition, was held at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat, Morocco.

The event was officiated by Moroccan football figures Doha El Madani and Fatiha Laassiri, with oversight from FIFA Tournament Division Director Jaime Yarza and FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer, Sarai Bareman.

This edition marks a historic milestone as the first time the tournament will host 24 teams and the first time it will be held on African soil. All matches are scheduled to take place in Rabat, with the competition set to run from 17 October to 8 November 2025.

Bankole Olowookere’s squad will aim to improve on their performance from the previous tournament in the Dominican Republic, where they exited in the quarter-finals. With the top two teams from each group and four of the best third-placed sides progressing to the Round of 16, the Flamingos will be targeting a strong start in their group.

The full groupings are as follows:

• Group A: Morocco, Brazil, Italy, Costa Rica
• Group B: Korea DPR, Mexico, Cameroon, Netherlands
• Group C: United States, Ecuador, China, Norway
• Group D: Nigeria, Canada, France, Samoa
• Group E: Spain, Colombia, Korea Republic, Cote d’Ivoire
• Group F: Japan, New Zealand, Zambia, Paraguay

Editorial

We believe Nigeria’s inclusion in Group D presents both a thrilling opportunity and a stern test for the Flamingos. Canada and France have long histories of investment in women’s football and consistently produce technically sound sides. Samoa, while not a powerhouse, adds an unpredictable dynamic to the group, possibly a dark horse with nothing to lose.

This draw offers a defining moment for the Flamingos. It is a platform to elevate the reputation of Nigerian youth football on a world stage particularly now, with the tournament being hosted for the first time in Africa. The symbolic significance of this cannot be overstated. African nations playing on African soil deserve to shine, and we must rise to the occasion.

While our last quarter-final exit still lingers, we cannot dwell on the past. The expanded 24-nation format and new group dynamics mean there are more pathways to progress but also more margin for error. Preparation, discipline, and strategic clarity will determine whether the Flamingos flourish or falter.

The coaching crew must ensure that our girls are physically and mentally prepared to face nations known for their tactical rigidity and athletic depth. But talent alone won’t suffice. Psychological readiness and confidence must be instilled from the first whistle.

This is more than just football. It’s a cultural moment for the continent and an opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate leadership in women’s sport. Let’s show the world what our youth can achieve when given the right platform.

Did You Know?

1. Canada hosted the first-ever FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship in 2002, the predecessor to the U-17 and U-20 women’s tournaments.
2. France’s U-17 women’s team won the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan.
3. Samoa’s participation marks one of the rare appearances of an Oceania nation outside New Zealand in a FIFA women’s youth tournament.
4. Morocco’s Mohammed VI Football Academy, venue for the draw, was inaugurated in 2009 and is considered one of Africa’s best football academies.
5. The 2025 tournament will be the first U-17 Women’s World Cup to feature six groups, up from the previous four-group format.