Head coach Bankole Olowookere said on Friday that Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, will not leave any room for a possible sucker punch as they take on their South African counterparts in a FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifying match in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday.
“We are very much aware of the fact that it is never over until it is over. It will be foolish to assume otherwise. Yes, we won 3-1 away in South Africa, but the contest is still alive. That is our mentality. That has been at the heart of our preparations since we returned from Pretoria.
“My assistants and I have been working on the team’s mental strength while drumming it into the ears of the girls that focus is key. No loss of concentration is allowed. Our objective is to win on Saturday and make sure of a place in the final qualifying round.”
Shakirat Moshood scored once and Harmony Chidi netted a brace to earn Nigeria a 3-1 win in Pretoria last weekend – a seemingly comfortable position for a team hosting the return leg.
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However, Cote d’Ivoire’s U17 girls showed that several things are still possible in football, when they hammered their Burundian counterparts 3-0 away after losing the first leg 3-1 in Abidjan, in these same qualifying series.
Olowookere added: “We learnt of the result of the Ivorians in the return leg against Burundi. It further underscored our insistence that the fixture is not over and done with. There is still 90 minutes to be played, and we must play it with our hearts and maximum mental strength.”
Match officials for Saturday’s encounter, which will commence at 4pm at the Remo Stars’ Stadium, arrived in Nigeria on Friday.
The winner of the fixture between Nigeria and South Africa will confront the winner of the fixture between Botswana and Algeria in the final qualification round, set for next month. Botswana won the first leg at home 2-1.
1 Comment
Shakirat Moshod and Chidi Harmony proved a handful for South Africa away. Will they carry this potency to the second leg?
To be honest, I felt the South Africans did themselves proud despite the 1:3 loss.
They just couldn’t match the physicality of our girls whose recent world cup expectations also gave them an edge.
But we can’t rest on our oars like Coach Bankole said.
These South Africans are technically endowed. They also have heart. Indeed they are not out of this encounter.
It should be an interesting match. I doubt NFF will arrange for it to be shown live.
If I am proved wrong, then I will definitely watch it and root for our girls all the way.
I am glad Taiwo Afolabi has now been moved on. Hopefully she finds herself in Turkey, Mexico, or Poland and then fight for a place in the Super Falcons. Forget whatever age she claims to be, that lady should no longer be playing under age football.
We need her in the Super Falcons midfield.