Nigeria’s Flamingos are set to depart for Côte d’Ivoire on Monday as they begin preparations for the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup, scheduled to take place in Yamoussoukro.
The Nigerian U-17 women’s national team will begin their campaign against Ghana on Wednesday, September 16, in what promises to be an intriguing rematch of the 2024 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup final.
The meeting with Ghana will provide the Flamingos with an early opportunity to assess their strength against one of their familiar West African rivals.
Beyond the regional competition, the tournament is also expected to serve as an important preparation exercise for Nigeria ahead of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The Flamingos will therefore be looking to use the WAFU-B tournament to build team cohesion, test tactical options and give players valuable competitive experience before turning their attention fully to the global tournament.
The clash with Ghana is particularly significant, given the history between the two sides and their meeting in the 2024 final.
The Flamingos will hope to begin their 2026 campaign on a positive note and establish themselves as strong contenders for the WAFU-B title.
With the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup also on the horizon, the competition in Côte d’Ivoire represents more than a regional assignment for Nigeria.
It offers the coaching staff an opportunity to fine-tune the squad and identify areas that require improvement before the team heads to Morocco.
The Flamingos’ departure on Monday marks the beginning of what is expected to be a crucial phase in their preparations for both regional and international challenges.
