Twenty-five players of the female national Under 17 team, also known as the Flamingoes, have departed for the training tour billed for Faro, Portugal ahead of the 2014 FIFA cadets World Cup in Costa Rica.
A 33-man delegation of the Nigeria U-17 national team made up 25 players and eight officials departed the country’s capital, Abuja, by 11pm on Friday, for a training tour of Faro, Portugal aboard on a Lufthansa Airline flight.
Expectedly on board were familiar faces like Captain Biawo Tessy Kesiena, Chinwendu Ihezuo, who both starred at the last U-17 women World Cup in Azerbaijan.
On the list also are Uchenna Kanu, Esther Elijah, Ugochi Emenayo, Aminat Yakubu, Cynthia Aku, Mary Ologbosere, Joy Duru, Joy Bokiri as goalkeeper Onyinyechi Okeke, Ginika Ikeh and Onyebuchi Goodness were not left out by Coach Bala Nkiyu.
The Flamingoes will be involved in an international friendly match with Belgium U-17 women team in Brussels on March 4 and other tune-up games with some clubs in Portugal during a 19-day training camp at the Browns Sport and Leisure Club in Faro, Portugal.
The Nigeria U-17 women will return to Faro from Brussels and then fly from Madrid, Spain to San Jose, capital of Costa Rica, on March 12, with their first match of the tournament against China on March 16.
Nigeria will trade tackle with China, Mexico and Colombia in Group D at the tournament that will be played across four stadiums, three in San Jose and another in Liberia.
The 25-man list is expected at the end of the training tour to be trimmed to 21 for the 4th FIFA U17 Women Finals in Costa Rica, taking place through March 15 to April 5 this year.
FULL PLAYERS LIST
Goalkeepers: Vincent Mercy (Confluence Queens), Okeke Onyinyechi Patience (Inneh Queens), Dike Patience Ndidi (COD United Ladies), Fubiana Briggs (Pelican Stars)
Defenders: Ologbosere Mary Nunumwen (Ibom Angels), Duru Joy Ndidi (Nasarawa Amazons), Emenayo Ugochi Cynthia (Nasarawa Amazons), Elijah Esther Olubunmi (Osun Babes), Mene Augusta Efe (Nasarawa Amazons), Anibaba Ayominde Awawu (FC Robo), Obidiya Alex Faith (Pelican Stars), Chika Edeh (Nasarawa Amazons),
Dike Patience Ndidi (COD United Ladies)
Midfielders: Biawo Tessy Kesiena (Delta Queens), ljeh Eluwemunor Desire (Delta Queens), Onyebuchi Ihuoma Goodness (Rivers Angels), Bokiri Joy Ebinemiere (Bayelsa Queens), Ginika Ikeh (Confluence Queens)
Forwards: Aku Cynthia Onyedikachi (Rivers Angels), Ajibade Rashidat Busayo (FC Robo), Chinwendu Veronica Ihezuo (Pelican Stars), Kanu Uchenna Grace (Pelican Stars), Ikechukwu Vivian Obianuju -(COD United ladies), Yakubu Aminat (Rivers Angels), Agams Nkechinyere – (COD United ladies).