Flamingos of Nigeria head coach Bankole Olowookere has told his team not to leave any room for complacency as they host South Africa in a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying match in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday.
Olowookere’s side won the first leg of the tie 3-1 in Pretoria last Saturday and will advance to the final qualifying round if they avoid home defeat.
“We are very much aware of the fact that it is never over until it is over. It will be foolish to assume otherwise,” Olowookere said on Friday, according to the Nigeria Football Federation media department.
“Yes, we won 3-1 away in South Africa, but the contest is still alive. That is our mentality. That has been at the heart of our preparations since we returned from Pretoria.
“My assistants and I have been working on the team’s mental strength while drumming it into the ears of the girls that focus is key. No loss of concentration is allowed. Our objective is to win on Saturday and make sure of a place in the final qualifying round.”
Shakirat Moshood scored once and Harmony Chidi netted a brace to earn Nigeria the win in Pretoria last weekend – a seemingly comfortable position for a team hosting the return leg.
However, Cote d’Ivoire showed that nothing is impossible in football, when they thrashed Burundi 3-0 away after losing the first leg 3-1 in Abidjan in the same qualifying series.
Olowookere added: “We learnt of the result of the Ivorians in the return leg against Burundi. It further underscored our insistence that the fixture is not over and done with. There is still 90 minutes to be played, and we must play it with our hearts and maximum mental strength.”
Match officials for Saturday’s encounter, which will commence at 4pm at the Remo Stars’ Stadium, arrived in Nigeria on Friday.
The winners of the tie between Nigeria and South Africa will face Botswana or Algeria in the final qualification round, set for next month. Botswana won the first leg at home 2-1.
