Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari has urged his players to avoid any sense of complacency after Nigeria delivered a commanding 5-0 win over Guinea in the first leg of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier last weekend in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Busari’s message after the first-leg demolition
While the result gave Nigeria a huge advantage, Busari made it clear that the job is not finished and that the squad must stay switched on for the return match.
He said his coaching staff studied Guinea closely ahead of the encounter, with extra attention paid to the visitors’ recent form—particularly their impressive 8-2 aggregate success over Niger Republic in the previous stage.
Busari explained that the team identified specific weaknesses to target during the game.
“Looking at the scale of the fixture and the way Guinea play as a high-scoring team, we reviewed their strong points and vulnerabilities,” Busari said. “We found that their left-back was one of their best areas, and we made sure to turn that into a target—so we exploited that channel.”
Despite the lopsided away triumph, the coach insisted the race is still open, stressing that focus must remain on closing out qualification in the second leg.
“In football, it is never truly over until it is finished. This is a two-legged tie and we have only completed the first half,” Busari added. “We will not be complacent in the return leg. The group is still rebuilding, and we want to deliver a convincing result for our supporters.”
Harmony Chidi celebrates, but warns against easing off
Harmony Chidi, who scored a hat-trick in the victory, echoed Busari’s stance and called for the Flamingos to keep their determination until they secure progression to the next stage.
The forward expressed deep joy at her treble, saying she viewed the performance as a reward for faith and perseverance following a long-term injury. She also made it clear that her mindset is still about pushing for the qualification ticket.
- Chidi said she prayed for the chance to score a hat-trick and credited her achievement to God.
- She insisted Nigeria should not relax, adding that the team will continue working hard until they secure qualification.
The Bayelsa Queens attacker also dedicated her goals to God, her family, her teammates, her coaches, and Nigerians who continued to support her during her recovery.
“The third goal is for Nigerians, my coaches and teammates who believed I could still do it despite my long-term injury,” Chidi said.
Travel plans and preparations for the return fixture
After the match in Abidjan, Nigeria are expected to leave the city this morning aboard ASKY Airlines. The route will take the team through Lomé in Togo before they arrive in Lagos at around 5:15pm Nigerian time.
Once back in Nigeria, Busari and the players are scheduled to move to Ikenne to continue preparations for the second leg this weekend.
The return encounter is set to be played at the Remo Stars Stadium.
What is at stake in the second leg
The aggregate winners of the tie will advance to the final round of the qualifiers. In that next stage, four African teams will earn places at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, with the tournament set to take place in July.
