FIFA has shifted the first leg of the 2024 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup final qualifying round match between Nigeria and Burundi from Bujumbura to Dar es Salaam in neighboring Tanzania. What prompted the change? The pitch in Bujumbura has been ruled unfit for the crucial match.
This statement coincides with the revelation that the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup will be expanded to a 24-team event (up from 16 last year in Costa Rica). Africa has been allocated two additional berths, with the Nigeria-Burundi match serving as the last qualifying test. The winner of the two legs will receive a trip to Colombia.
Burundi will now host the Falconets at the Azam Stadium Complex in Dar es Salaam, the same location where the Nigerians drew 1-1 with their Tanzanian rivals in the previous round before beating them 2-1 in Abuja to advance to this level.
The match set for Sunday, January 14, 2024, would be refereed by South African official Nonjabulo Nonhle Ndlela, according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Her compatriots Nandipha Menze and Maneo Evodia Tau will be the first and second assistant referees, respectively, and the fourth official will be Nteboheleng Theresia Setoko from Lesotho.
The matchday roster will be completed by Fransiska Katjaimo of Namibia and Angelique Tuyishime of Rwanda, who will serve as commissioner and referee assessor, respectively.
Asma Chouchane, a Tunisian official, will lead the return leg on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. She will be supported by fellow Tunisians Houda Afine, Nesrine Ouertatani, and Emna Ajbouni. The positions of commissioner and referee assessor will be filled by Christine Ziga of Ghana and Fadouma Dia of Senegal, respectively.
The notification to come in the Federal Capital, Abuja, on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, has been sent to all 25 players invited by Head Coach Chris Musa Danjuma for the match. The first leg's training sessions start the next day.
The Falconets intend to take off and earn their way to the esteemed competition in Colombia with the stage set in Dar es Salaam. Nigerians will take on a Burundian team that is keen to upset the status quo and create history. There's no doubt that this two-leg match will be exciting, with all eyes on the field as the competition for a World Cup spot develops.
