U17 WWC: Flamingos potential opponent, England handed boost as Arsenal midfielder's ban reduced by Fifa

Nigeria women's national U17 team, the Flamingos could potentially be facing England's Young Lionesses in the 2024 Fifa U17 Women's World Cup showpiece on November 3,  provided both teams win their next two knockout games.

Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report with certainty that the English Football Association received cheering news from Fifa on Thursday night regarding the eligibility of Omotara Junaid for the quarterfinal clash with Japan on October 27. 

Junaid, one of the two players of Nigerian descent in the England squad, was shown a straight red card in the 57th minute of England's hard-fought 4-2 victory against Mexico in their second group game of the ongoing tournament in Dominican Republic.

Much to her surprise, the England number 8 was sent off by Ugandan referee Shamirah Nabadda for allegedly stomping on Mexico forward Reyes Vázquez, following a VAR review. 

Junaid was initially handed a two-game ban, and was not available for selection in England's last group game versus North Korea. 

Fifa notified the English Football Association tonight that Junaid's suspension has been shortened from two games to one, and she has been cleared to be named in the gameday squad for the quarterfinal showdown with Japan.

This news will be sweet music to the ears of Young Lionesses manager Natalie Henderson, who considers Junaid a key player in the squad, naming her in the starting lineup in the opening two games. 

Nigeria along with Spain and North Korea finished with a one hundred percent record in the group stage. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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