U-17 WCQ: Flamingos’ coach seeks convincing first-leg win over Algeria

Head Coach of Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, Bankole Olowookere, said on Friday that the team aims to secure a commanding victory in the first leg of their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round against Algeria on Saturday. He emphasized that a big win at home would help ease the pressure ahead of next week’s return leg in North Africa.

“We have been working very hard to correct the lapses noticed in our previous matches against South Africa, and we believe we are in good form to secure a strong win here before heading into the second leg in Algeria,” Olowookere told thenff.com.

“I always remind the girls that no two matches are the same, so just because we beat South Africa home and away doesn’t mean we can afford to relax in this final round. We have to stay grounded, work even harder, build better team chemistry, and raise our level of play. Our mission is to qualify for the FIFA World Cup and go to Morocco to make Nigeria proud.”

Saturday’s encounter will take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, the same venue where the Flamingos defeated South Africa’s Bantwana 2-0 after an earlier 3-1 win in Pretoria. It is also where the Super Falcons beat Algeria 2-0 in a friendly match in October last year.

Olowookere is expected to field forward Harmony Chidi—who has scored 16 goals in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, including 13 en route to last year’s finals in the Dominican Republic—midfielder Shakirat Moshood—who netted four goals at the last World Cup and scored the opener against South Africa in Pretoria—and Aishat Animashaun, another scorer in the win over the Bantwana last month, as part of his attacking setup against Algeria.

The return leg is scheduled for Friday, April 25, at Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida, Algeria.

This year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals will take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 5.