Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team head coach, Hakeem Busari, has urged his players to maintain maximum concentration and complete their historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign by defeating Japan in Saturday’s final.
The Flamingos secured a place in the final after an impressive run at the tournament in Morocco, with Busari acknowledging the significance of the achievement while insisting that the job remains unfinished.
Speaking after Nigeria’s semi-final victory, the coach described his journey to the final as a demanding experience built on character, commitment and determination, particularly given the challenges encountered from the qualifying rounds to the tournament proper.
Busari expressed excitement at reaching the final, describing the achievement as a significant turning point in his coaching career. However, he stressed that the team must remain cautious, disciplined and focused on the ultimate objective.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s performance in the semi-final, particularly the missed opportunities in the first half, Busari admitted that he was concerned about his players’ inability to convert their chances.
He explained that in knockout football, failing to take clear opportunities can prove costly, as a match could ultimately be decided by penalties.
According to him, his primary concern at half-time was getting the players to remain composed and take advantage of the opportunities created rather than allow the missed chances to affect their confidence.
With Japan now standing between Nigeria and the world title, Busari acknowledged that the final would present an entirely different challenge, requiring another level of preparation and mentality.
His message to the players was clear: remain focused, give everything and finish the job.
“Let’s put our eyes on the prize. Let’s focus and finish off the job because the job is not yet done,” Busari said.
“We are still in the process. We know we have made history by reaching the final, but the trophy is the major thing. Our country wants it as well. We just need to fight.”
The Flamingos will now look to translate their historic progression into a maiden FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title when they face Japan in the final, with Busari calling for one final collective effort to bring the trophy home.
