FIFA U17 WWCQ | Nigeria vs Burkina Faso Preview | Flamingos On A Tricky Mission
Nigeria’s U17 Women’s national team, the Flamingos, are going into the second leg of the FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup qualifier third-round on a very tight rope, having been held to a 1-1 draw by the Burkina Babes of Burkina Faso in the first leg last Thursday at Stade du 26, Bamako, Mali, the temporary home stadium of Burkina Faso national teams.
Nigeria dominated the first leg but were poor in the final third whilst their opponent capitalised on a mixup in the Flamingos’ defence in the 85th minute to equalise and put themselves in pole position to contest the ticket for the Dominican Republic FIFA U17 WWC.
That result and the recent form of the Burkina Babes who have only lost just a game in three matches, make Saturday’s encounter in Abuja a very tricky one for the Flamingos.
Shortly after the match, the Flamingos’ head coach, Bankole Olowookere gave reasons why the team performed below expectations, stating that the weather in Mali was ”too harsh” due to the country’s proximity to the desert.
Olowookere also showered accolades on the Burkina Babes, adding that African Football, especially women’s football is developing from the grassroots. He believed that the improved Burkina Faso side was another reason they couldn’t soar higher as always.
He said, “Another thing is the improvement on the Burkina Babes U17 team. Unlike typical African countries, we will just go there and whitewash them. My joy is that African Football is developing from the grassroots.”
The U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup bronze medal-winning coach acknowledges that his team needs to improve on their goal-scoring prowess, having watched the match about five times after the game.
He said, “Ever since we finished the game, I took my time to watch the match for over five times now, to vet, identify where we have done well, capitalize on such and where we are below par, especially with our goal scoring abilities. We wasted a lot of chances, though we created a lot of chances, which is normal. More so, this is a developmental cadre, you can’t kill these girls, they are just coming up to the limelight, and some of them, are travelling out, and wearing the Nigerian jersey for the first time. Apparently, after two to three matches, they will get it right.”
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The coach also asserted that the team’s focus and only objective for now is to scale the hurdle placed before them by Burkina Faso as they file out against the Burkina Babes in today’s match.
He said, “If we must qualify for the World Cup we must win our matches. Our focus now is Burkina Faso, we must be able to scale that hurdle first.”
Eguavoen Pledges Full Support For Flamingos
Meanwhile, the head of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical crew, Augustine Eguavoen, was with the girls at their final training session in Abuja.
Eguavoen while motivating the Flamingos to make Nigerians proud, said, he’s impressed with what he has seen and believed the team can defeat Burkina Faso in Abuja to qualify for the fourth and final round which will be against Senegal or Liberia.
In his words, “I’m pleased with what I’ve seen so far. You know playing for your motherland or fatherland is not always a right but a priviledge. There are lots of players all over, but at the moment, you are the ones that have been picked, and you must live up to that expectation.
“You owe yourself, you owe your family a duty since you have decided to play football.
Eguavoen urged the girls to be disciplined and assured the girls of the NFF members full support.
Barrister Paul Edeh Challenges The Girls
Also speaking to the young Nigerian female footballers, is Benue State FA chairman, Barrister Paul Edeh, whose motivational session fired up the Flamingos in their final training ahead of the match against Burkina Faso in Abuja.
He said, *At the last FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India, two of you were selected to further their education in La Liga academy. One of them, who wasn’t an attacker but a defender, was named the best U20 female player in Europe, and that’s Oyinlola Shakirat Olamide.”
“If one of you is in Europe, playing in La Liga academy, and she is already on the raider of some European clubs, this is an opportunity for you to showcase yourself also, because if you do not qualify for the next stage, who will identify you? That is why every match is as important as the next one,” Paul Edeh added.
Teams News & Recent Form
There have been no injury worries for either team and neither Nigeria nor Burkina Faso have any suspension record. So both teams can go into this second-leg encounter with their best legs.
Nigeria’s Last five matches
The Flamingos have recorded two victories and three draws in their last five matches.
The Burkina Babes have also won one drew one, and lost only one game as well.
Head-To-Head & Prediction
Nigeria and Burkina Faso have met at this level only once in recent times both teams played a goalless draw in the first leg of qualifiers last Friday. Looking at that match, and projecting what the outcome of today’s match might likely be, we would say a more disciplined and determined Nigerian side should win the game by at least three goals to nothing.
Nigeria have only missed one edition of the FIFA U-17 WWC, which was in 2018, but they finished 3rd at the last edition in India after the Olowookere-led side defeated Germany on penalties.
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Coach Bankole Olowookere urges Nigerians to come out in their numbers to watch the match, and appeals for prayers and support whilst assuring that his team won’t disappoint Nigerians.