Nigeria’s U17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have safely arrived in Morocco their first stop on the road to glory at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The young stars departed Abuja early Wednesday morning aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight, lifting off at 7:18 a.m. and landing in Casablanca just over four hours later. Excitement filled the air as the team disembarked at Mohammed V International Airport, ready to chase another historic run on the global stage.
But the journey began with an unexpected dose of inspiration. As fate would have it, the girls crossed paths with none other than former Super Eagles stalwart Taribo West, who was en route to France. Known for his passion and fiery presence on the pitch, Taribo took a few moments to encourage the young Flamingos. He reminded them that discipline, focus, and unity would be their greatest assets as they represent Nigeria with pride. His impromptu pep talk drew cheers and applause from both players and officials a powerful moment that set the tone for their mission ahead.
After completing their arrival formalities, the team checked into the Ibis Hotel in Casablanca, their temporary base before heading to Rabat for the tournament proper. Spirits were high as the players settled in, many expressing their excitement at wearing the green and white jersey once again on the world stage.
Later that evening, the Flamingos hit the pitch for a light recovery session aimed at shaking off the effects of travel and adjusting to Morocco’s climate. The training focused on easy ball movement, coordination, and recovery drills a gentle start to what promises to be an intense buildup to their first match.
Drawn in Group D alongside Canada, France, and Samoa, the Flamingos face a challenging but thrilling test when the competition kicks off. Their opening match comes up on Sunday, October 19, and the team’s confidence is sky-high. With ten preparatory games under their belt scoring 44 goals without conceding Nigeria’s young heroines are ready to soar.
From the buzz at the airport to the focused rhythm of training in Casablanca, one thing is clear: the Flamingos have landed in Morocco not just to compete, but to conquer.
