Posted by By MONICA IHEAKAM on
World Football ruling body, FIFA, have reduced the slots given to African countries for the Under-17 Women World Cup to begin from October 28 to November 17 in New Zealand, from three to two slots.
… Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana set for play offs
World Football ruling body, FIFA, have reduced the slots given to African countries for the Under-17 Women World Cup to begin from October 28 to November 17 in New Zealand, from three to two slots.
FIFA's decision to reduce Africa's slots, it was gathered, was based on the large withdrawal of many African countries from the qualifiers, which started in January.
About 12 countries were pencilled down by CAF to fight for Africa's three slots for the first edition of the championship, but the reverse was the case as five countries pulled out of the qualifiers at the last minutes.
Countries that pulled out of the qualifiers include, Benin Republic, Liberia, Botswana Namibia and Zimbabwe. Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon that have earlier qualified for the New Zealand tournament, have been pitched once again among themselves to fight for the two slots, in a round robin encounter.
Confirming the latest development to Daily Sunsport, Chief Coach of the National Under-17 female team, Felix Ibeh, said he had hurriedly put together a team that would play their Cameroon counterpart this weekend in Yauonde, Cameroon, while describing the development as a set back for female football development in Africa. Garbosy as he is fondly called by admires said that nothing would stop him from getting one of the two avaliable slots for Nigeria, as they begin a fresh campaign for a place in New Zealand.
It would be recalled that the Ibeh tutored girls mauled their first and only opponents, Guinea 7-0 at the Abuja Stadium in January and 5-0 in faraway Guniea.
This is the first time FIFA are organising such a competition for women at Under-17 level and it is in line with the world soccer ruling body's commitment to the development and improvement of the women game.