Heartland Queens' hard-as-nails defender, Onyedikachi Vivian Ekezie and attacker, Yetunde Zarat Anyantosho have been called back to the nation's U17 women team, Flamingos ahead of the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup qualifying fixture against Burkina Faso.

Going into next month’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers against the West African foes, head coach, Bankole Olowookere invited 25 players to the camp of the U17 side and Heartland Queens' duo, Ekezie and Anyantosho made the 25-man final list. 

Ekezie who has cemented her place in the Owerri mainstreams rearguards helped the club to secure six clean sheets this season and also played a key role in initiating attacks and counter attacks. 

Anyantosho who joined the club midseason equally helped the team to maintain her prime position at the top of the table for several weeks as well as securing numerous winnings. 

The duo contributed massively to the club's first time ever NWFL Premiership Super Six finish this season and rightly earned their places at the nation's U17 women team. 

Heartland Queens' chief coach, Adanna Nwaneri will also be in the dugouts as one of the assistant coaches for the U17 team ahead of the qualifying encounter. 

Olowookere, who led the Flamingos to her first-ever World Cup bronze medal finish in India last year, saw the girls fire from all cylinders in a 12-0 rout of their counterparts from Central African Republic over two legs in Douala, Cameroon and Abuja in the second round of the African qualifying series in February.

Both teams will clash in the first leg of this third-round fixture at Stade 4 August in Ouagadougou on Sunday, May 12 with the return leg at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, May 18.

This year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals will take place in the Dominican Republic. 

The Owerri landladies wish the players good luck ahead of the crucial qualifying clash as they fly the club’s flag at the national team.