Costa Rica 2014: Nigeria U17 Women squad announced for World Cup

A week to the start of the Women U17 World Cup, the Flamingoes boss announces his 21 players to challenge for global glory in Costa Rica

Head coach of the Nigeria women U17 national team, Bala Nikyu has released a list of 21 players for the FIFA U17 women World Cup in Costa Rica which holds from March 15 to April 4.
Nigeria qualified for the finals of the U17 competition without kicking the ball after opponents, South Sudan pulled out of the two-legged qualifiers.
Expectedly, red-hot striker Chiwendu Ihezuo who finished second highest goal scorer with six goals alongside six others that were involved in the last edition in Azerbaijan alongside 14 new faces made the final 21-player list for the tournament.Four players - strikers Agams Nkechinyere and Ikeh Ginika, defender Chika Edeh and goalkeeper Sandra Aernyi of the 25 in training camp with the Flamingoes in Faro, Portugal have been dropped.

The Flamingoes who will be competing with 15 other countries have been drawn against Colombia, Mexico and China PR in Group D.

Ghana and Zambia are the other African representatives at the 4th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.

The Flamingoes will hope to become the first African team to reach the semi-finals after four appearances at the women cadet championship.

Nigeria’s Squad

Goalkeepers - 1 Mercy VINCENT (Confluence Queens FC), 16 Fubiana BRIGGS (Pelican Stars FC), 21 Onyinyechukwu OKEKE (Inneh Queens)

Defenders - 2 Mary OLOGBOSERE (Ibom Angels FC), 3 Patience DIKE (C.O.D United FC), 5 Ugochi EMENAYO (Nasarawa Amazons FC), 6 Esther ELIJAH (Osun Babes), 11 Faith ALEX (Pelican Stars), 12 Joy DURU (Nasarawa Amazons) ,13 Ayomide ANIBABA (Robo FC), 17 Augustar MENE (Nasarawa Amazons FC)

Midfielders - 4 Ihuoma ONYEBUCHI (Rivers Angels FC), 8 Joy BOKIRI (Bayelsa Queens FC), 9 Aminat YAKUBU (Rivers Angels), 10 Tessy BIAHWO (Delta Queens FC), 20 Eluemunor IJEH (Delta Queens FC)

Forwards - 7 Vivian IKECHUKWU (Real Dinamo FC), 14 Rasheedat AJIBADE (Robo FC), 15 Uchenna KANU (Pelican Stars FC), 18 Cynthia AKU (Rivers Angels), 19 Chinwendu IHEZUO (Pelican Stars)