Flamingos vs Venezuela: Busari demands composure, clinical finishing
By Tosin Omojola
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team head coach, Hakeem Busari, has urged the Flamingos to remain composed, improve their finishing and compete fiercely for every ball when they face Venezuela in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The Flamingos will meet their South American opponents in Salé on Sunday, November 1, with a semi-final place at stake.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Busari acknowledged Venezuela’s quality but said his players must show the same determination they have displayed throughout the tournament.
“Like I always say, it is one game after another. Venezuela are also a very good side to have reached this stage of the tournament. We will approach the game the same way we approached our previous matches because all the teams in the quarter-finals are good sides,” he said.
Busari stressed the importance of the right mentality, winning individual battles and competing for both first and second balls, adding ” We are leaving nothing to chance in our preparation. The players must go all out and play. We have to get our mentality right and fight for every ball, both first and second balls. We must take the game to them and hope for the luck needed to progress”.
The coach cautioned against placing unnecessary pressure on his young players, urging them to stay calm, concentrate and finish their chances. He also called for collective effort to regain possession.
“We have done it before, and it is just a matter of reminding them because they are still young. We must not put them under unnecessary pressure or anxiety. They should approach the game calmly, concentrate and take their chances. When we don’t have the ball, we must fight to win it back. When we have possession, we must play, keep the ball and take our chances,” Busari said.
Busari also highlighted the physical strength and competitive nature of South American teams, warning his players to prepare for demanding individual battles.
“There is something you must know about the character of South American teams: they are thorough and tough when it comes to physical duels,” Busari concluded.
