Flamingos will clinch quarterfinal ticket, Gusau assures

Ibrahim Musa Gusau

The President of new board of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, is confident Nigeria’s U-17 team, the Flamingos, will qualify for the next round of the tournament at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India.

Nigeria will today meet Chile in Group B fixture holding at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, scheduled for 12-noon Nigeria time (4:00pm in India).

Both teams have three points each, but the Africa’s representative have superior goals difference and will scale through if the game ends in a draw.

“Though we need a draw to qualify, I have told the technical crew and the players to work hard for a win to sustain their winning mentality.

“That element is crucial for a team at this point in the tournament. Winning mentality ensures that you want to go for it no matter the situation or condition.

“They did well to get the goals against New Zealand, but we need these three points as well so that the message can go out to our quarter-finals opponents that we mean serious business.”

The 4-0 win over New Zealand took the Flamingos to three points and plus three goals advantage, while their 6-0 thumping by group leaders Germany meant the Chileans remained on three points and with minus four goals.

Beaming with optimism, Flamingos’ Head Coach, Bankole Olowookere, said his girls would not take their feet off the pedal against the South Americans.

“We are ready for another three points. We had a good win over New Zealand, but I’m not happy we lost so many scoring chances. We cannot afford to do that against Chile.

“We are very focused because nothing has been won yet. It is another game in which we must give our very best and ensure we get a win.”

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