FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup begins today

· As Flamingoes step up training ahead Brazil clash

THE fifth FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup begins today in Jordan, where 16 countries will battle for honours in the cities of Amman, Irbid and Al Zarqa.

Venezuela will kick start the biennial soccer fiesta against Germany in a group B fixture billed for the Al Hassan International Stadium, Irbid, while Mexico and New Zealand clash in a group A game at the Amman International Stadium in the second game of matchday one.

Cameroon will face Canada in another group B game in Irbid, while the hosts, Jordan, in the last match of the day, will begin their campaign against Spain.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Flamingoes have stepped up training ahead of tomorrow’s group C opener against the young Samba girls from Brazil billed for the King Abdullah II International Stadium, Amman.

The Flamingoes resumed training on Wednesday afternoon at the Al Wehdat Training Field, Amman, Jordan, with all 21 players participating actively.

The Bala Nikyu girls were also scheduled to train at the same venue on Thursday (yesterday).

The Nigeria team had arrived in Amman on Tuesday morning, after flying from Abuja to Dubai and connecting another Emirates Airline flight from Dubai to the Jordanian capital.

Earlier on Wednesday, officials of the world football–governing body FIFA conducted the team arrival meeting where captain Rasheedat Ajibade was presented with Nigeria’s plaque and all the players were given certificate of participation.

Also at the team arrival meeting, every member of the team was accredited, while various issues on the tournament like venue contact information, stadium and training facilities, pre and post match conferences and laws of the game were discussed in detail.

Nigeria, it will be recalled, finished in the quarter-final of the world tournament two years ago, which has been its best so far since the introduction of the cadet tourney for girls in 2010.