By Akinwale Kasali
Having recorded a back-to-back victory against New Zealand and Chile at the ongoing Under-17 FIFA World Cup in India after their opening match defeat to Germany, the Flamingoes of Nigeria will face Female Football Powerhouse, United States of America.
Nigeria’s Under-17 Female Team finished second behind Germany in Group B to make a date with the USA who finished top of Group A having defeated host India, 8-0, drew 1-1 with Brazil and routed Morocco 4-0 to lead the log with seven points and +12 goal difference.
Coach Bankole Olowookere is gunning to make history for himself and the nation when the Flamingoes file out against the USA on Friday 21st October, 2022, at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, India.
Nigeria has never gone beyond the Quarter Finals stage of the competition having been booted out at this stage on four occasions.
This crop of girls will be gunning to write their names in the history book by becoming the first African team to achieve the feat if they qualify for the semi final stage of the Female Under-17 FIFA World Cup.
President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has expressed optimism that the Flamingoes are motivated to beat their United States of America counterparts.
The newly elected President stated that the girls will give it their best shot and get the result that will fetch them a semi-final ticket, adding that the spirit is high in their camp in Goa, and all things being equal, can go all the way to win the trophy.
“They (the Flamingoes) are very well motivated and working very hard to do the country proud by winning the cup. We are mobilizing Nigerians in India with the help of the Nigerian Embassy to ensure that the girls feel at home. The target of the girls is to be the first African team to win the women’s World Cup.
“I have been speaking with the coach and officials of the team and I have charged them not to be wasteful with the scoring chances they create like during their group games. Now they have promised to take their chances and beat the USA to advance, ” Gusau stated.
