WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Nigeria-South Africa clash headlines African Qualifiers for the U-17 Women’s World Cup
The second round of qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will take place in Morocco from later this year, officially resumes this weekend, tense encounters lined up.
Africa has four places reserved at the global showpiece which will be at stake as the qualification race heats up.
Starting on Saturday, 8 March, the first-leg matches will pit several ambitious teams against each other.
Cameroon will host Ethiopia, while Tanzania will face Zambia. One of the most anticipated matchups will be South Africa against Nigeria, a duel between two teams accustomed to international competition.
Other exciting clashes to look out for in the first leg include Sierra Leone vs Guinea and Benin vs DR Congo.
On the eastern part of the continent, Uganda and Kenya will meet in a CECAFA derby, while Algeria will attempt to overcome Botswana in a north versus south clash.
One other appetising clash will see Cote d’Ivoire taking on Burundi.
The second-leg matches, scheduled for 14 March 14, will be decisive in determining which teams will qualify.
With their experience and the advantage of playing at home, Zambia and Nigeria, who represented the continent in the last World Cup in the Dominican Republic, will aim to win and continue their journey.
Some of the teams involved have a strong track record in youth competitions.
Nigeria, a five-time qualifier for the U-17 Women’s World Cup, is the favourite against South Africa and will look to confirm its status over the two legged encouter. Cameroon, with several participations in this global tournament, will rely on its experience to overcome an Ethiopia team that has shown significant progress.
Zambia, rising in women’s football, must be cautious of Tanzania, a team that has demonstrated its potential in recent years.
Meanwhile, DR Congo, though less experienced in this age category, hopes to surprise Benin. Finally, Algeria will have to stay alert against Botswana, a team always capable of pulling off an upset.
Schedule of the Second Round of the African Qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
First-leg Matches
Saturday, March 8, 2025 (local time)
- South Africa vs Nigeria (14:00)
- Uganda vs Kenya (14:00)
- Botswana vs Algeria (14:00)
- Sierra Leone vs Guinea (17:00)
- Cameroon vs Ethiopia (19:00)
Sunday, March 9, 2025 (local time)
- Tanzania vs Zambia (17:00)
- Benin vs DR Congo (16:00)
- Cote d’Ivoire vs Burundi (17:00)
Second-leg Matches
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 (local time)
17:00: Burundi vs Cote d’Ivoire
Saturday, March 15, 2025 (local time)
13:00: Ethiopia vs Cameroon
15:00: Zambia vs Tanzania
16:00: Nigeria vs South Africa
17:00: Guinea vs Sierra Leone
Sunday, March 16, 2025 (local time)
13:00: Kenya vs Uganda
15:30: DR Congo vs Benin
21:00: Algeria vs Botswana
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
FIFA has given the United States and CONCACAF the green light to bid but they will still have to beat off competition from South Africa and Morocco, while Japan sees its hopes fading until at least 2039 but says it will continue to push for the growth of the female category in football.
The road to the 2031 Women’s World Cup has taken a decisive turn as the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) confirmed on Wednesday its intention to complete the bidding process to host the tournament along with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football and its affiliated federations.
The decision comes after the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) reduced the number of eligible regions to just two: North America and Africa.
“We are excited about the opportunity to welcome teams and fans, inspire the next generation and grow the game regionally and globally,” the USSF explained in a release on social media.
The wish represents a new venture to bring the tournament to North American soil after the United States and Mexico dropped their bid for 2027, allowing Brazil to keep the 2027 tournament.
FIFA delivered the reduction of bidders in a statement from Zurich, specifying that the 2031 Women’s World Cup will be decided between North America and Africa.
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The Football Associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales intend to submit an Expression of Interest to FIFA with a view to the United Kingdom hosting the 2035 women’s World Cup, they said on Wednesday.
It would be the first time the tournament has been held on British soil, following two women’s European Championships in England in 2005 and 2022.
FIFA’s Council recently decided to recommend Europe or Africa as potential hosts for the 2035 tournament.
“The women’s World Cup on home turf would be another monumental moment in our sporting history, driving growth and leaving a lasting legacy. The FAs’ intention to bid has my government’s full support,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.
FIFA announced that bids for the 2031 and 2035 Women’s World Cups will be submitted in late 2025, with decisions expected by mid-2026.
“We strongly believe that we could organise a fantastic tournament, building on the success of the UEFA women’s EURO in 2022 and the subsequent rapid growth of the women’s game in England,” said Mark Bullingham, CEO of the English Football Association.
The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil, the first time the tournament has been held in South America. The host of the 2031 event is yet to be decided.
-Reuters
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) said on March 5 it will press ahead with a joint bid for the 2031 Women’s World Cup after a FIFA decision boosted the Concacaf region’s chances of staging the tournament.
The USSF said in a brief statement on social media that it planned to “complete the bid process to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup” in partnership with the Concacaf regional federation and its members.
“We are excited by the opportunity to welcome teams and fans, inspire the next generation and grow the game regionally and globally,” it said.
The United States and Mexico had initially planned to bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup but withdrew their candidacy in 2024 weeks ahead of a Fifa vote in Bangkok, saying they would instead concentrate on a successful bid for 2031.
The 2027 tournament was eventually awarded to Brazil.
In a statement issued earlier on March 5, FIFA announced that the field of eligible regions for the 2031 hosts had been narrowed down to two – North America, Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf) and Africa (CAF).
A US joint bid would still face competition, however, with both South Africa and Morocco in the running to stage the 2031 tournament.
While FIFA has repeatedly signalled its willingness to take the Women’s World Cup to new territories, a North American bid would represent an attractive commercial option for FIFA with the likelihood of packed stadiums and record attendances.
North America has hosted the tournament on three previous occasions, with the USA solo hosts in 1999 and 2003, and Canada staging the event in 2015.
Hosting in 2031 would complete a busy cycle of major sporting events in North America.
FIFA is already staging its inaugural Club World Cup in the region in 2025, and the United States, Canada and Mexico are hosting the 2026 men’s World Cup.
Los Angeles is also hosting the 2028 Olympics.
Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey will make history by having a Super Bowl-style half-time show.
“This will be a historic moment for the Fifa World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” Infantino said.
No further information about specific details or duration of the half-time show were revealed, but Coldplay band members Chris Martin and Phil Harvey will determine the artists who will perform.
The move mirrors the show held during the final of the 2024 Copa America in Miami, when Colombian star Shakira performed at half-time at the Hard Rock Stadium.
-AFP
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Seventeen NPFL teams make the President’s Federation Cup Round of 64
Nigeria-South Africa clash headlines African Qualifiers for the U-17 Women’s World Cup
Africa’s female table tennis pioneer, Mabel Segun, passes on at 95
- World Cup3 days ago
BREAKING! Chelle rolls out his first ever Nigerian squad
- Nigerian Football3 days ago
Rivers Utd, Shooting Stars setup potential thrilling triangular battle
- Other Leagues1 week ago
Nigeria’s Victor Olatunji is Man of the Match in quest for Czech Cup title defence
- Badminton2 days ago
Edo Sports Commission, Badminton Federation of Nigeria hold training for students
- International Football6 days ago
Libya signs on former Senegal manager, Aliou Cissé as national coach
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Video: Flying Eagles thrash Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 in Abidjan
- Governing Bodies6 days ago
Rule Change in Football: time-wasting by goalkeepers will incur a corner kick
- WOMEN'S FOOTBALL2 days ago
FIFA pushes back inaugural Women’s Club World Cup, introduces new competition