NIGERIA, SOUTH AFRICA CLASH AGAIN

NIGERIA'S quest for a ticket to the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago continues as Flamingos battle the Basetsana of South Africa between April 17 and 18 in Abuja for one of the two slots for Africa.

Nigeria, Ghana, DR Congo, South Africa, Tunisia and Egypt were placed on bye in the preliminary round while Kenya, Botswana, Togo and Sierra Leone battled to qualify for the first round.

Nigeria was billed to face Togo in the first round but the withdrawal of the Francophone country left the Flamingos without an opponent in the round.

The South Africans defeated Botswana 13-0 in their World Cup second leg qualifying match in South Africa. Basetsana won the first leg 9-1 in Gaborone.

The forthcoming match, which will be officiated by Senegal's Dia Fadouma, promises to be a thrilling, encounter as the Flamingos, coached Peter Dedegbo, look forward to picking the ticket for their second appearance at the tournament.

The return leg tie has been fixed for May 1 and 2 in Johannesburg and will be officiated by Ethiopia's Sisay Tsige.

Ghana will take on Tunisia in the other match after Egypt withdrew from the tournament.

Meanwhile, Canada has emerged as surprise winners from the CONCACAF U-17 Women's championship in Costa Rica, edging Mexico to the crown with a 1-0 win in the final. While both finalists qualify for the World Cup, the big shock of the event was the elimination of USA, female superpowers in the region and runners-up at the inaugural U-17 world finals in New Zealand two years ago.