Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari has praised his players for their patience after Nigeria eventually broke down a stubborn Burkina Faso side to maintain their perfect start at the WAFU-B U-17 Women’s Cup.
Mary Dunstan and Robo Queens’ Oluwakemi Adegbuyi scored late to seal the victory, sending Nigeria to the top of the group and preserving their 100 per cent record in the competition.
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Busari revealed that Nigeria had anticipated Burkina Faso’s approach before the game, but admitted that their deep defensive structure made it difficult for the Flamingos to impose themselves.
“As of yesterday, I’ve envisaged this, that Burkina are going to sit back, they’re locked down on the tactics, they want to send one or two, and coincidentally we’re having the chances, but we could not convert from the early minutes in the first half. That will have changed the course, and that will increase the goal margin of our chances,” Busari said.
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The coach believes Nigeria’s failure to take those early opportunities allowed Burkina Faso to remain committed to their game plan.
“But because we have not been able to score, they still continue, they have high strength endurance as we have, but equally, they could not try to really play more of the ball on the ground.”
Busari said Burkina Faso relied heavily on long balls and a deep defensive block, making it difficult for Nigeria to find spaces.
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“They want to play long kick, and they want to sit back. So, sitting back, playing six, seven, four attack over nine is a difficult game. So the tactics Burkina try to play are a difficult game for us,” he explained.
With Burkina Faso refusing to open up, Busari stressed the need for his young players to remain composed rather than rush their attacking decisions.
“So we just have to be patient, patient really, because we are dealing with youths. So where they need to be composed and calm, they want to be in a hurry, they wasted the chances. And as they’re wasting the chances, the time and the clock is going far.”
The longer Nigeria remained without a goal, the more confidence Burkina Faso gained from their tactical approach.
“The Burkina are getting more stronger because the tactics is working for them. Until we were able to get the difference of the one goal and they needed to come out, then we can now play.”
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For Busari, the encounter was a clear demonstration of the tactical side of the game.
“So football is about tactics,” he said.
The Flamingos coach also gave credit to Burkina Faso for executing their plan while praising the quality of coaching across African football.
“That’s why I said, for Africa, we have good technicians, we have good coaches who can really read and come up with something. So kudos to the Burkinabè as well because they have tactics they want to play and we’re able to curtail with what we have as well. Good game for both sides.”
The late breakthrough ultimately ensured Nigeria maintained their perfect start, with the Flamingos now sitting top of the group as the competition continues.
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