FLAMINGOS head coach Bankole Olowookere is backing his team to secure another victory when they take on Ecuador in their second Group A fixture at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
The Nigerian girls earned a comfortable 4-1 win over New Zealand in their opening match on Wednesday night, and Olowookere is demanding a similar performance on Saturday night.
“Our tournament strategy is to focus on the next match, take it one match at a time. We need not look farther than the next match, and now, we have Ecuador in our sights,” the coach said.
“The Ecuadorians have shown, with their defeat of the host nation, that they may be debutants but not a team to be taken for granted.
“The players have recovered well from their opening match victory over New Zealand and we are ready for Ecuador. We know that three points in that game will all but get us into the knock-out stage. It is an opportunity we will not allow to slip out of our hands.”
The victory on Wednesday took Nigeria to the top of the Group A table, level on three points with Ecuador, who beat the Dominican Republic 2-0.
Shakirat Moshood, Taiwo Adegoke, Faridat Abdulwahab and captain Taiwo Afolabi (Player of the Match) scored the goals against New Zealand, and Olowookere is banking on them to repeat the feat.
Saturday’s match will kick off at 4pm Dominican Republic time (9pm in Nigeria), and will take place at the same CFC Stadium where the Flamingos defeated New Zealand.
