Sports Revelation Online ..breaking authenic sports reports
From Harry Awurumibe, Live in Morocco
The Flamingos
Before the start of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals in the Kingdom of Morocco on Saturday, October 17, 2026, not much was known or heard about most of the 21 players who made the final shortlist of Nigeria’s junior women’s football team, the Flamingos as not much attention was paid to the team.
Safe for the Flamingos’ great success earlier in September at the CAF/West African Football Union (WAFU-B) Championship in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, where the coach Busari Hakeem Ishola’s girls were in red hot form as they defeated five other opponents to lift the CAF/WAFU-B trophy.
Prior to becoming the Sub-regional champions, Nigeria showed her football pedigree in the 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup African qualifiers by dismantling Guinea 11-0 on aggregate, then beating Benin Republic 8-5 on aggregate (3-2 home, 5-3 away), with Queen Joseph scoring a hat-trick in the return leg in Lomé, Togo venue of the return match.
However, the Flamingos showed their true colour in the WAFU B tournament in Yamoussoukro going through five crucial matches against very tough West African opponents without a single loss or draw with coach Busari using the championship to gain real competitive minutes, tactical tests against different styles, especially pressure games against eternal rivals Ghana, and a winning mentality.
Interestingly, under Busari who was appointed as head coach by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) just five months earlier, the Flamingos produced a perfect campaign in Yamoussoukro as Nigeria walloped Niger Republic 5-0 in the opening match and defeated arch-rivals Ghana 4-2 even after going down to 10 players.
Also, Nigeria beat Burkina Faso 2-0; hosts Côte d’Ivoire 2-0 and thrashed Togo 4-0 in the finals with team
captain Harmony Chidera Chidi scoring a brace from the penalty spot in the final while Oluebube Umejiaku and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi completing the rout.
Nigeria secured a record five victories in five matches, scoring a whopping 17 goals and conceded only two in the tournament to show the team’s winning mentality which they have transferred to Morocco for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Yet, except few players like Chidi and Adegbuyi who have been in the Nigerian media because of their exploits in the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL), the rest of the players Busari selected were not hugging the headlines although they have distinguished themselves in the domestic league to warrant the national team selectors to pick them for this World Cup.
BRIEF BIO-DATA OF 21 FLAMINGOS IN MOROCCO
1-IJIRIGHO, Jane Bubemi, Flamingos’ first-choice goalkeeper was born on August 31, 2009 (Age: 17)
• Height: 1.92 meters (tallest player at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup)
• State of Origin: Delta State, Nigeria
• Current Club: Nasarawa Amazons F.C. (on loan from CATS Ladies in Lagos)
• Youth Development: Trained under Chinasa Ukandu at CATS Ladies in Lagos.
2- ADESUYI, Elizabeth Success Adesuyi who plays as a defender for Flamingos was born on March 8, 2010
• Height: 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
• Current Club: Pacesetter Queens FC, Ibadan, Oyo state.
3-ODUNTAN, Azeezat Adesewa, Flamingos’ stand-in-captain was born on July 10, 2009 in the South West region of Nigeria. Height: 1.65m
Club: FC Robo Queens
Current* Club: FC Robo Lagos
4- ROTIMI, Ayomide Muinat, plays as a midfielder for the Flamingos.
She was born on March 25, 2009 (17)
• Current Club: Nakamura Football Academy.
5-OHUNENE, Opeyemi Sunday is a 16-year-old central defender for the Flamingos (both-footed) wears shirt number 5
• Height: ~1.60 m (5′ 3″). She was born on August 22, 2010 in Kogi Central (Ebira descent), Kogi state.
• Current Club: Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia, Nasarawa State.
6- OPARANMEGWA, Pattra Chidera who plays as Right-back or Centre-Back for Flamingos was born on June 7, 2009, in Imo State. Standing at 168.5 cm
• Current Club: Rosaria Victrix FC of Imo state (formerly on loan at Delta Queens FC)
7– JOSEPH, Queen is indeed a rising Nigerian forward who is one of the front three of the Flamingos in Morocco. She plays either as a striker or winger. She was born on November 24, 2009. Current School/
Academy: Fosla Academy, Karshi, Abuja.
8- DUNSTAN, Mary Akpan, plays as Flamingos’ midfielder in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. She was born in Akwa Ibom, South South region of Nigeria. She was born on November 1, 2010.
Current Club: Bayelsa Queens FC.
9-CHIDI, Chidera Harmony, the captain of Flamingos hails from of Mbieri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo state. She was born on October 21, 2009. Chidi was Nigeria’s joint highest goalscorer with four goals in the WAFU-B tournament in September.
10- NKWOCHA, Favour Chiamaka (not related to Nigerian Legend Perpetua Nkwocha), born April 27, 2009, is an exceptionally talented 17-year-old Flamingos midfielder who was named the official Player of the Match following her exceptional performance in Nigeria’s 1-0 quarter-final victory against Venezuela, helping her country advance to the semi-finals.
The Imo state-born left-footed player is also recognized as one of the most promising young talents in Nigerian women’s football.
• Current Club: FC Robo Queens
11-BASHIRU, Awawu Adeola was born on March 30, 2010 in the South West region of Nigeria and started her football career earlier although there were initial objections from her parents. Her determination to follow her passion saw scouted for club and national duties.
Current Club: Confluence Queens FC of Lokoja, Kogi state.
12- RAFIU, Tosin Eguono is a 16-year-old Flamingos midfielder who has shown signs of greatness in her game. She was born on June 8, 2010 in Kogi state of Nigeria.
She represented Nigeria as the youngest player in the Falconets squad for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland where she scored a goal against England.
Current Club: FC Robo Queens (Lagos)
13- STEPHEN, Esther Enne, who plays in the lower league in Nigeria is Flamingos defender. Born on March 29, 2010 (Age 16), the hardworking player can also switch position as Center-back and Fullback.
Current Club: Unification FC, Lagos.
..,,,,To Be Continued Tomorrow