By Taiwo Adeyinka
The Flamingos, Nigeria’s U17 women’s team, are set to face Liberia today in the final round of the FIFA U17 World Cup qualifiers at Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, kick-off at 4 p.m. local time of which Head Coach Bankole Olowookere expressed confidence in securing a victory on home turf.
The team has maintained an impressive record throughout the qualifiers. In their previous encounter with Liberia, they dominated with a 4-1 win, conceding only a penalty in the closing minutes. As they approach today’s decisive match, their fate hangs in the balance.
Having secured a great spot against the Liberian in the first leg, the Flamingos aspire to clinch a spot in the upcoming World Cup. Despite their advantageous position, Coach Olowookere cautioned against self-admiration, emphasizing the need for focused and disciplined play. “There is so much excitement in camp, and they are self-assured. However, I have warned them that it is never over until it is over. There should be no display of over-confidence on the pitch. We must approach the match like the first leg was a drawn game.”
As the 2022 bronze medalist the team’s hopes are high and they cannot wait to occupy a prestigious seat in the World Cup Competition.
A victory today would mark Nigeria’s seventh qualification for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, with the team having missed only one edition in 2018.