Nigeria’s Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari has praised his players for their resilience and determination after they bounced back from their defeat to Poland to stun defending champions North Korea 3-1 in their final Group B fixture at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The victory marked a significant response from the Nigerian side, who had suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss to Poland before recovering with a 2-0 win over Puerto Rico and an impressive performance against the North Koreans.
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Busari, who took charge of the team in April, reflected on the progress made under his leadership, the disappointment of losing to Poland, and the need for his players to maintain their belief as they pursue their ambitions at the tournament.
The coach explained that the defeat to Poland was a rare setback for a team that had enjoyed an encouraging run of results in preparation for the competition.
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“Like I said to somebody while we were talking, the Poland game was the first game we had lost since I took over the team in April this year. We have played a series of about 20-something friendlies,” Busari said.
“During the qualification, we played four games and won all of them, while at WAFU-B, we won all five games. Poland was a shocker to us, but we just had to let it go. We had to restrategise and look at ourselves.
“We had to ask ourselves if that was really what we saw within ourselves. We needed to come back, and this victory was one of the fights for that comeback.”
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Busari urges Flamingos to show perseverance despite refereeing decisions
The Flamingos coach also addressed the role of officiating in football, acknowledging that mistakes can happen while insisting that his players must respect decisions made by match officials and remain focused on their own performance.
Busari stressed that resilience, self-belief and discipline were essential qualities for any team hoping to compete for a major title.
“Human errors happen. Referees are human beings, and they can make mistakes, just as we can as humans,” he said.
“But nevertheless, it is a game in which they are in charge. We just have to respect whatever decisions come. We cannot be a team or even champions without perseverance and self-belief. These are part of the discipline required of a good team with a good culture.
“Whatever they are doing to us, they are balancing it with the other team as well.”
The coach also pointed to fatigue and lapses in concentration as factors that affected his players during the match, explaining that the technical crew attempted to manage the game through substitutions and other tactical adjustments.
According to Busari, the Flamingos had to work hard to preserve their energy as the contest progressed, but the opposition continued to introduce fresh players.
“For our girls, it was a loss of concentration at that moment. You could see that we tried to slow things down with substitutions and do everything possible to manage what we had,” he explained.
“But they kept introducing players, and endurance was really beginning to tell on our girls. Nevertheless, the players kept fighting.”
The victory over North Korea will provide the Flamingos with renewed confidence as they continue their campaign, but Busari’s message remains clear: Nigeria must maintain its discipline, learn from its setbacks and keep believing in its ability to compete with the best.
Rodiat Yusuf celebrates memorable performance after North Korea win
Flamingos midfielder Rodiat Yusuf was equally delighted after Nigeria’s impressive victory, describing the result as the product of teamwork, determination and the players’ commitment to carrying out their coach’s instructions.
Yusuf, who was named Player of the Match, said the team approached the encounter determined to secure the result they needed and was pleased that their collective effort delivered the desired outcome.
“I feel so excited because we were determined to get the result we wanted, and we achieved it through hard work, consistency and working as a team,” Yusuf said.
“With the help of the coach’s instructions, we were able to get the result. It is a good moment for me, scoring my first goal this March.”
Reflecting on the personal significance of her performance, Yusuf described the experience as a special memory while urging her teammates to maintain their focus and continue giving their best in every match.
“It is a good thing for me. It is a remarkable memory for me, and I am so excited. We got the win we wanted,” she said.
“We should just keep our heads up. This game has been played and it is gone. We just have to keep doing our best every time, in every match. We should give our 100 per cent and always get our maximum result.”
Yusuf’s comments reflect the determination within the Flamingos camp to move beyond individual achievements and concentrate on the bigger objective of progressing further in the tournament.
Kemi Adegbuyi backs Flamingos to fight for U-17 World Cup glory
Meanwhile, Kemi Adegbuyi, who scored Nigeria’s opening goal against North Korea, expressed her gratitude after helping the Flamingos secure a memorable victory over the defending champions.
The forward credited God for the achievement and said the team entered the match with a clear objective: to win and collect all three points.
“I feel very, very happy, and I am very, very grateful to God because it is not by our power. It is God, yes,” Adegbuyi said.
Explaining how she found the net, the Nigerian forward said her quick reaction and determination to reach the ball ahead of the opposition helped her convert the opportunity.
“I think I was faster to the ball, and that made me score the goal. I was faster to the ball; I was quicker,” she explained.
ALSO READ: FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup: Nigeria’s Flamingos stun North Korea, reach Round of 16
“Our plan was to win, so our plan was to get the three points. We came out fully to play so we could get the three points.”
Adegbuyi also expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to challenge for the trophy, insisting that the Flamingos would continue to work towards their ultimate ambition.
“I believe we can win this tournament by His grace,” she added.
With Busari demanding perseverance, Yusuf emphasising consistency and Adegbuyi expressing belief in the team’s title ambitions, the Flamingos will hope their victory over North Korea becomes a turning point in their campaign.
After recovering from the disappointment against Poland, Nigeria have shown they can respond under pressure. The challenge now is to build on that performance, maintain their momentum and turn their renewed confidence into further progress at the U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Based on their last performance? No one would bet against that happening.
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