Flamingoes ready for France duel

The Nigerian female U-17 team have never gone beyond the quarter finals of the World Cup.

Coach of the Nigerian U-17 female team, Peter Dedevbo, has said that his side is ready for the quarterfinal tie against France in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Azerbaijan.

He said his girls understand the technicalities of this stage and are ready to progress to the semifinals.

“This is the knockout stage and my girls understand the technicalities when we take on France. I want my girls to convert all the chances they create as this will be crucial. From this stage onwards we will play each match as it comes, one game at a time,” he said.

“After the quarterfinal ouster in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010, this team has made tremendous progress and I’m particularly happy with my attackers’ performance who I believe will continue to give us the goals,” the coach added.

Also, scorer of the brace against Colombia, Halimat Ayinde, who was also in the 2010 squad, assured that the quarter final exist of 2010 has since been buried and the team is looking to get to the finals and win the cup.

“I am not afraid of France. Yes, we got eliminated at the quarterfinal stage at the last World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago, but I believe in myself and the girls that we will make it into the semifinals this time. We have come a long way and we are not going to look back,” Ayinde said.

The team captain, Victoria Aidelomon, who was also part of the squad two years ago, said that she was excited to have made it to the quarterfinals again, and believes her team will qualify for the semis at the expense of France.

“I’m excited we have once again qualified for the quarterfinals. What happened two years ago is now history because I believe France are beatable. By the grace of God, and the prayers and support of Nigerians, both here and back home, I believe we will beat France,” Aidelomon assured.

The team resumed training on Sunday afternoon after resting in the morning. The match against France will be played on October 4.