Nigeria’s U17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, will begin their campaign for a place at the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals at the second round of the African qualifiers.

 

The Flamingos are slated to face the winner of the preliminary round encounter between Niger Republic and Guinea, as they seek qualification for the global tournament scheduled to hold in Morocco in October 2026.

 

The first leg of the second-round fixture is expected to be played between May 22 and 24, with the return leg fixed for May 29 to 31. The team that emerges victorious on aggregate will progress to the third and final qualifying round.

 

In the final round, first-leg matches will take place between July 3 and 5, while the return legs are scheduled for July 10 to 12. Successful teams at the end of the qualifiers will secure Africa’s tickets to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.

 

Nigeria remain one of the continent’s most consistent performers at the U17 level and will be aiming for a strong return to the global stage following a disappointing outing at the last edition of the tournament.

 

The Flamingos’ previous campaign ended in the Round of 16 after a heavy 4–0 defeat to Italy, a result that abruptly halted their progress. That early exit has placed increased attention on the upcoming qualifiers, as the team looks to rebuild momentum and reassert its status as one of Africa’s traditional powerhouses in women’s youth football.