France are gearing up for their fourth FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™, 13 years after the generation led by Griedge Mbock, Kadidiatou Diani and Grace Geyoro lifted the trophy. In 2012, Les Bleuettes were on top of the world in Azerbaijan thanks to an unbeaten campaign, squeezing past Korea DPR 7-6 on penalties in the trophy decider after the sides had shared a 1-1 stalemate.
While that tournament was unfolding, thousands of kilometres away from Baku, two four-year-old girls were beginning their journeys with a ball at their feet: Reims-born Tante Diakite and Le Havre native Medina Belaid. This passion for football ran in the family, for both of them alike. The former grew up following in the footsteps of her brothers, particularly her eldest brother Ibrahim Diakite, who now plays professionally in Belgium for Cercle Brugge.
In contrast, a young Belaid was inspired by her uncle, Souleymane Diawara, a former Senegalese international defender who enjoyed a successful career with clubs including Bordeaux, Marseille and Nice. Her uncle is a player she has always looked up to. “I followed him from a very young age. He was a defender. I think that’s what made me want to play football, as a defender in particular,” she revealed in an exclusive interview with FIFA.
The pair of teenagers have developed into beacons of hope for French women’s football; hoping to repeat the feat of 2012, Les Bleuettes will be able to count on their talent and leadership at Morocco 2025™, which is set to take place from 17 October to 8 November.
The Paris Saint-Germain team-mates, having both signed for the club ahead of the 2024/25 season, are proudly looking forward to this tournament. “Pulling on the French national-team shirt is a real privilege,” says Diakite. “Before my first call-ups to the U-15s, it didn’t even cross my mind. Representing your country at a World Cup means a great deal now; we’re aware there are lots of young girls who would love to be in our shoes.”
Her team-mate shares this sentiment, having already represented Les Bleuettes at two editions of the UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship: “When I received my first call-up, I was obviously very proud. Being able to play at a World Cup now is an incredible experience that we will cherish forever, and one that will undoubtedly help us in our careers.”
This France U-17 squad is blessed with an abundance of individual talent, but the real driving force behind the team is its collective spirit. Belaid and Diakite are convinced that they can only go far in this World Cup by playing together as a team. “We’re a proper team,” the midfield maestro insists. “That’s our greatest strength. We always stick together – it shows in the way we play.”
This togetherness has clearly been fostered by years spent developing alongside one another. Thanks to the introduction of the U-15 development squad, most of the players who will be representing France in Rabat have already known each other for several years. This has enabled them to develop an instinctive understanding of each other’s game and strong mutual trust. For Belaid, an admirer of Chelsea’s American defender Naomi Girma’s game sense and composure, this solidarity will be one of the pillars of success: “At this level of competition, mentality is also an important factor. And we are ready to fight for each other.”
A final training camp at the start of September – which culminated in a resounding 4-0 victory over hosts Morocco – provided the perfect opportunity to iron out a few remaining wrinkles in the wake of their heartbreaking semi-final penalty shoot-out elimination from the 2025 UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship by eventual winners Netherlands, following a 1-1 draw. During this final training camp, Mickael Ferreira’s players were able to polish up their preparations before heading off to the global showpiece, where they will first take on Samoa on Sunday, 19 October. “We worked on what went wrong at the European Championship, particularly our finishing,” Diakite admits. “Now we need to turn this into success at the World Cup.”
France find themselves in a tough Group D, against Canada, Nigeria and Samoa. Facing three opponents from different continents will naturally require Les Bleuettes to demonstrate their adaptability. “It’s interesting because styles of play vary among nations and cultures,” explained Belaid. “It’s up to us to adapt and show what we’re capable of.” Diakite fires a word of warning: “In a World Cup, every opponent can pose a challenge – there are no easy matches.”
Having reached the semi-finals of the last two UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championships, the French girls are now looking to raise the bar on the world stage. Fortunately, they can count on an ambitious, close-knit group of players. Belaid and Diakite now follow in the footsteps of Mbock, who won the adidas Golden Ball award at the 2012 edition of the tournament, as they represent a new generation of French players ready to make their mark on the world stage. Will history be repeated 13 years on?
Picture credits: Fédération Française de Football (FFF)
