The 2024 U-17 Women’s World Cup will serve as a pivotal moment for African women’s football as Nigeria, Zambia, and Kenya gear up to showcase their talent on the global stage.
The tournament, held in the Dominican Republic from 16 October to 3 November 2024, will be an opportunity for these teams to demonstrate the growth of women’s football across Africa.
African Teams’ Journey to Qualification
Nigeria (Flamingos): Secured their place with a commanding 6-1 aggregate win over Liberia. They dominated both legs, with a 4-1 victory away and a 2-0 win in Abuja.
Zambia (Copper Princesses): Returned to the World Cup after a decade, beating Morocco 3-1 on aggregate. Their qualification was confirmed after a goalless draw in the second leg.
Kenya (Harambee Starlets): Made history by qualifying for the first time, defeating Burundi 5-0 on aggregate, with a 2-0 victory in Nairobi sealing their maiden World Cup appearance.
Group Stage Fixtures (Local Time – AST)
Nigeria (Group A)
– Nigeria vs. New Zealand: 16 October 2024, 16:00
– Nigeria vs. Ecuador: 20 October 2024, 16:00
– Nigeria vs. Dominican Republic: 23 October 2024, 16:00
Kenya (Group C)
– Kenya vs. North Korea: 17 October 2024, 16:00
– Kenya vs. Mexico: 20 October 2024, 19:00
– Kenya vs. England: 23 October 2024, 19:00
Zambia (Group D)
– Zambia vs. Japan: 17 October 2024, 19:00
– Zambia vs. Poland: 20 October 2024, 16:00
– Zambia vs. Brazil: 23 October 2024, 19:00
Players to Watch
Nigeria
Harmony Chidi (Forward): 5 goals in qualifiers, 7 tackles, and 10 key passes.
Rotimo Muinat (Midfielder): 85% pass completion, 12 interceptions, and 2 goals.
Zambia
Namute Chileshe (Forward): 4 goals, 15 successful dribbles, 5 key passes.
Precious Mwape (Defender): 20 tackles, 10 interceptions.
Kenya
Pearl Mungai (Midfielder): 78% pass accuracy, 3 goals, 8 tackles.
Marion Serenge (Forward): 2 goals, 10 dribbles.
Coaches’ Tactics
Nigeria: Bankole Olowookere emphasizes offensive play and quick transitions, using the team’s pace to dominate.
Zambia: Carol Kanyemba balances defence and counterattacks, exploiting opponents’ weaknesses.
Kenya: Mildred Cheche focuses on a solid defensive setup with opportunistic counterattacks.
Tournament History
Nigeria: The most experienced team among the three, having participated in six previous editions. They finished third in 2022.
Zambia: Qualified in 2014 and is growing, with recent participation in major global tournaments.
Kenya: Making their debut, marking a major achievement for Kenyan women’s football.
This tournament will be a key moment for these African teams as they aim to build on their qualification successes and continue growing their global football presence.
