Nigeria legend, FIFA Women’s World Cup star and FIFA’s Ambassador for the women’s game, Mercy Akide-Udoh o Friday had a session with players of Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos in Morocco, two days before the Flamingos’ 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup opener against Canada.
Mercy Akide-Udoh is in Morocco as a member of the FIFA Players’ Voice Panel. The 16-strong Players’ Voice Panel brings together former male and female players from diverse ethnic backgrounds and all six confederations. The panel advises and supports FIFA and its 211 Member Associations in the global stand against racism. The panel ensures that lived experience is central to the global stand against racism, with panel members offering critical insights on how racism impacts players both on and off the pitch.
ROLE OF THE PANEL
• ADVISE: provide guidance and input on initiatives driving the global stand against racism
• EDUCATE: support and lead educational efforts to build awareness and inspire action against racism
• MONITOR: track progress and drive reforms for lasting change in the global stand against racism
Mercy will lead educational efforts to raise awareness and inspire action against racism and all forms of discrimination, and took time to advise and encourage the Nigerian girls. She plans to visit them again before their opening match on Sunday.
