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The coach of Nigeria’s cadet female national team, Flamingos, Bankole Olowookere has declared that his lasses will not allow any form of complacency slow them down in this weekend’s encounter with Democratic Republic of Congo.
Olowookere’s wards are three goals up from the first leg played in Kinshasa last week but, despite the heavy advantage, the gaffer stressed that they will not take their visitors for granted in this Saturday’s second leg of their FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifier.
Megasportsarena.com gathered that fast-rising midfielder, Blessing Emmanuel as well as vibrant defender, Tumininu Adeshina and enterprising forward, Opeyemi Ajakaiye shared the goals in Nigeria’s first leg 3-0 victory at Stade de Matrys, Kinshasa.
That has left the Flamingos well poised for victory in the reverse fixture billed for Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, where the match officials are expected to arrive on Thursday.
Benin Republic’s Laurande Offin Kayode has been selected by Confederation of African Football (CAF) to referee for the match, alongside her compatriots Nafissatou Yekini Shitou (assistant referee one), Djaria Bio Yacoubou (assistant referee two) and Aurore Christelle Ligan (fourth official).
Christine Ziga from Ghana will be match commissioner for the encounter, which is one of the second round, second leg fixtures of the African series for the cadet female championship to be hosted by India in October.
Nigeria’s Flamingos will now aim to keep their momentum going, after winning the first leg in Kinshasa on March 6 and the winner on aggregate after Saturday’s encounter will earn a place in the third round of the qualifiers.
Egypt have already surged ahead to play either side in April, while the final round of the qualifiers will be in May and this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, the seventh edition since it was launched in New Zealand in 2008, will take place in India from 11th to 30th October.
Nigeria have missed only one edition of the tournament, being the 2018 finals in Uruguay, but participated at the 2008 and 2010 editions in Trinidad & Tobago as well as 2012 in Azerbaijan, 2014 in Costa Rica and 2016 in Jordan, while the 2020 stage, which was also scheduled for India, was cancelled on account of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Flamingos, whose players and crew have set their eyes on making it to India 2022, arrived in Benin City on Tuesday evening, with Olowookere vowing that his girls will go all out for victory despite the massive advantage they hold from the first leg.
“There is no complacency in our camp. Every match must be approached with the mentality of gaining victory.
“We did well in Kinshasa but the girls wasted a number of scoring chances and we have been working on that.
“Clinical precision is key for any team that wants to win matches and tournaments,” Olowookere declared emphatically.
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