
FIFA Logo | Credit: fifa.com
In an unprecedented move, FIFA, the global governing body of world football, has decided to shift the location of the 2024 FIFA U20 Womenโs World Cup final qualifying round’s first leg match between Nigeria and Burundi. Originally slated for Bujumbura, the game will now take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, due to concerns about the unsuitability of the pitch in Bujumbura for hosting such a crucial fixture.
The decision comes in the wake of the expansion of the FIFA U20 Womenโs World Cup to a 24-team tournament, compared to the 16-team format in the previous edition in Costa Rica. As part of this expansion, two additional slots have been allocated to Africa. The clash between Nigeria and Burundi will serve as the final qualifying round, determining which team secures a coveted spot in the upcoming tournament in Colombia.
Burundi will now play host to Nigeria’s Falconets at the Azam Stadium Complex in Dar es Salaam, the same venue where the Falconets previously engaged in a 1-1 draw against their Tanzanian counterparts in the last round. Subsequently, the Falconets secured a 2-1 victory in Abuja to advance to the current stage.
The Confederation of African Football has announced the appointment of South African official Nonjabulo Nonhle Ndlela as the referee for the match scheduled to take place on Sunday, 14th January 2024. Her compatriots, Maneo Evodia Tau and Nandipha Menze, will act as the first and second assistant referees, while Nteboheleng Theresia Setoko from Lesotho will assume the role of the fourth official. Angelique Tuyishime from Rwanda has been designated as the commissioner, and Fransiska Katjaimo from Namibia will serve as the referee assessor.
For the return leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Saturday, 20th January 2024, Tunisian official Asma Chouchane will officiate as the referee. Houda Afine, Nesrine Ouertatani, and Emna Ajbouni, all from Tunisia, will assume the roles of assistant referees 1 and 2, as well as the fourth official, respectively. Christine Ziga from Ghana and Fadouma Dia from Senegal will serve as commissioner and referee assessor, respectively.
In the meantime, all 25 players summoned by Head Coach Chris Musa Danjuma for the upcoming fixture to assemble in the Federal Capital, Abuja, on Wednesday, 27th December 2023. Training sessions for the first leg match will kick off the following day.
What’s your thought about this story?
Kindly like, comment, follow and share.