Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari has warned his players against complacency ahead of Sunday’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Guinea, insisting Nigeria’s qualification hopes are not yet secured despite their dominant first-leg advantage.
Nigeria’s U17 girls return to action at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne Remo with one foot already in the final qualifying round following a commanding 5-0 victory over Guinea in the first leg played in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Flamingos, Nigeria’s U17 girls ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifier.
The Flamingos produced a ruthless display in that encounter, combining attacking sharpness with defensive discipline to leave Guinea facing an uphill battle in the return leg.
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Busari says his technical crew has spent the week ensuring the players remain fully focused and avoid taking the game lightly.
“It happens in football because at the time when you are above a team in terms of goal-scoring and equally in performance, complacency will really set in as a human,” Busari said.
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The Flamingos coach admitted that maintaining concentration after such a convincing victory has become one of the biggest priorities in camp as preparations intensified in Ikenne-Remo.
Since returning from Côte d’Ivoire, the Nigerian side have continued training with the objective of finishing the job professionally and avoiding any slip-up in front of home supporters.
Busari compared the team’s preparation to academic examinations, stressing that consistent work and discipline remain the key ingredients for success.
Flamingos coach Akeem Busari has warned Nigeria’s U17 girls against complacency despite their 5-0 first-leg advantage over Guinea ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifier.
While Nigeria head into Sunday’s encounter as overwhelming favourites, the coach believes Guinea still possess enough motivation to make the contest difficult if given encouragement.
“I see Guinea as a team that can still want to fight back. On our side, we still need to give more because we are playing at home,” he added.
“Our fans want to see the beauty of the game, we want to showcase what we have, we want to win excellently.”
Victory over Guinea would send the Flamingos into the final round of qualification for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, bringing Nigeria one step closer to another appearance on the global stage.
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The Flamingos have grown into one of Africa’s strongest youth sides in recent years, famously securing a historic third-place finish at the 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India the best performance ever achieved by an African nation in the competition.
With qualification now firmly within sight, Busari’s side will be determined to avoid complacency, entertain the home fans, and continue their march toward Morocco 2026.
