Nigeria’s U17 women’s team coach, Bankole Olowookere, has stressed the importance of focus and discipline as the Flamingos prepare to face South Africa in their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
Despite securing a 3-1 victory in the first leg in Pretoria, Olowookere has cautioned against underestimating their opponents in the return fixture at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo.
‘Nothing is Decided Yet’
Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter, Olowookere dismissed any notion that Nigeria already has the tie wrapped up, insisting that his squad remains fully aware of the task ahead.
“We know that nothing is decided until the final whistle. It would be a mistake to think otherwise,” Olowookere stated. “Yes, we won 3-1 in South Africa, but the challenge remains. That has been our mindset since we returned from Pretoria.”
The coach emphasized that mental preparation has been a key focus for the team in training. “Our goal is to win on Saturday and secure our place in the final qualifying round.
That means staying mentally strong and fully concentrated for the entire 90 minutes,” he added.
Flamingos Hold First-Leg Advantage
In the opening leg, Nigeria established a crucial lead thanks to goals from Shakirat Moshood and Harmony Chidi. Their efforts ensured the Flamingos returned home with a two-goal cushion, putting them in a favorable position ahead of the decisive match.
However, Olowookere pointed to recent results elsewhere in the qualifiers as a reminder that no lead is safe. He referenced Côte d’Ivoire’s dramatic turnaround against Burundi, where the Ivorians recovered from a 3-1 home defeat to win 3-0 away and progress to the next round.
“This serves as a warning to us,” he said. “Football can be unpredictable, and we must ensure that we do not allow South Africa any opportunity to stage a comeback.
There are still 90 minutes to play, and we must approach them with determination and mental strength.”
Road to the Final Qualifying Round
Saturday’s fixture, scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. at the Remo Stars Stadium, will determine which team advances to the final round of qualification.
The victor will go on to face the winner of the Botswana-Algeria encounter, with Botswana currently holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg.
Meanwhile, match officials for the Nigeria-South Africa clash arrived in the country on Friday, ensuring all preparations are in place for a decisive contest.
With a spot in the final round at stake, Olowookere has made it clear that his team will approach the match with full intensity, knowing that any lapse in concentration could be costly.
