Newly appointed Head Coach Akeem Ishola Busari has named a 36-player squad for the Nigeria U17 girls’ national team, the Flamingos, ahead of their second-round fixture in the qualifiers for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026.
The Flamingos will face the winner of the first-round encounter between Niger Republic and Guinea. Niger Republic are scheduled to host the first leg this weekend, with the return leg taking place in Conakry next weekend. The winner of the tie will then meet Nigeria in the second round, with the first leg slated for the weekend of May 22–24, while Nigeria will host the return leg on May 30.
Busari’s squad comprises five goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 13 midfielders and eight forwards, as the former youth coach begins his tenure following the departure of Coach Bankole Olowookere.
Nigeria, bronze medallists at the 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, will be aiming to secure qualification for this year’s finals scheduled to hold in Morocco from October 17 to November 7.
Squad List
Goalkeepers: Dorathy Noel Ndaks (Nasarawa Amazons); Sylvia Echefu (Bayelsa Queens); Abidemi Aiyeolowo (Remo Stars Ladies); Amarachi Atulayo (Heartland Queens); Rita Anthony (Confluence Queens)
Defenders: Sefiat Idris (Bayelsa Queens); Veronica Kefas (Plateau United Ladies); Pattra Oparanmegwa (Delta Queens); Chioma James (Imo Strikers); Azeezat Oduntan (FC Robo Queens); Justina Godwin (Kwara United Ladies); Kanyinsola Yusuf (FC Robo Queens); Fakoya Akinola (Ekiti Queens); Esther Enne (Unification FC); God’s-Gift Afigbediotor (Ibom Angels)
Midfielders: Shakirat Sarafa (Remo Stars Ladies); Deborah Olayiwola (Bayelsa Queens); Tosin Tiamiyu (FC Robo Queens); Fidel Pepple (Pacesetter Queens); Favour Etim (Nasarawa Amazons); Blessing Sunday (Confluence Queens); Oluwatosin Yusuf (Nasarawa Amazons); Awawu Bashiru (Confluence Queens); Endurance Omoroka (Ekiti Queens); Ogaga Adams (Delta Queens); Memunat Rotimi (Nakamura Academy); Anesthesia Akwubo (Ahudiyannem FC); Busayo Ogunlede (Goalright Academy)
Forwards: Harmony Chidi (Bayelsa Queens); Aminat Abiodun (Pacesetter Queens); Mary Dustan (Imo Strikers); Patricia Habila (Fosla Academy); Kindness Ifeanyi (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwakemi Adegbuyi (FC Robo Queens); Queen Joseph (Fosla Academy); Istifanus Shavih (Youth Arise FC).
NFF Appoints Assistants for Busari
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved the appointment of assistant coaches for the Flamingos following recommendations by its Technical and Development Committee.
Former international defender Joy Jegede-Idakwo has been named First Assistant Coach, while Aighewi Omodiaghe will serve as Second Assistant Coach. Former Nigeria international Kola Ige has been appointed as the team’s goalkeepers’ trainer.
Jegede-Idakwo captained the U20 women’s national team, Falconets, and went on to earn several caps with the Super Falcons. Omodiaghe was part of Nigeria’s squad at the inaugural FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand in 2008.
The newly constituted technical crew will support Busari as the Flamingos pursue qualification for Morocco 2026, with the target of surpassing their third-place finish at the 2022 tournament.
