Coach
of Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s team Bala Nikyu has selected Chinwendu
Ihezuo along with 20 other players to represent Nigeria at this year’s
FIFA Women’s World Cup which kicks off on Saturday in Costa Rica.She was a Silver Boot winner at the 2012 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup held in Azerbaijan, where she scored six goals.
Ihezuo has been appointed as captain of the team to lead Nigeria’s search for a first-ever triumph in the cadet competition that was inaugurated in New Zealand in 2008.
Nigeria have not been very fortunate in the competition. In 2010, they lost to Korea Republic after a pulsating quarterfinal match that went into extra-time, and the Asians went ahead to lift the trophy. Also in 2012, France won the trophy in Azerbaijan after defeating Nigeria on penalties in the quarterfinals.
Coach Nikyu is, however, confident that his team is prepared to go all the way in the competition this time after their 19-day training camp in Faro, Portugal, where they won all their friendly matches, save for the 0-0 draw with Belgium’s Under-17 women team in Brussels on March 4.
The Flamingoes flew out of Frankfurt, Germany on Wednesday to arrive in San Jose, capital city of Costa Rica, on Thursday morning. They play their first match against China on Sunday, with other group phase games against Colombia and Mexico to follow on March 19 and 23 respectively.
FULL LIST
Joy Bokiri, Aminat Yakubu, Uchenna Kanu, Rasheedat Ajibade, Fubiana Briggs, Ugochi Emenayo, Ihuoma Onyebuchi, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Onyinye Okeke, Tessy Biahwo, Ayomide Anibaba, Joy Duru, Cynthia Aku, Mary Ologbosere, Faith Alex, Olubunmi Elijah, Vivian Ikechukwu, Augustar Mene, Patience Dike, Mercy Vincent, Desire Ijeh.
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