The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau will be at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa to watch the U-17 side, Flamingos battle Columbia in the semi-final clash of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday.
It is the first semi-final, starting at 4pm (12noon Nigeria time) with the second semi-final between Germany and Spain to kick off three-and-half hours later.
Victory over Colombia – who defeated the only other African team, Tanzania 3-0 in the last eight to make the knockout stage, will shoot the Flamingos into Sunday’s final.
The Flamingos are the first Nigeria team to be involved in a tournament during the presidency of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
They had beaten the United States in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in a World Cup quarter-final, and now await Colombia in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, head coach, Bankole Olowookere has vowed to correct all the lapses noticed from the beginning of their campaign in India and is determined to win the semi-final match against Columbia.
“We are at the crucial time of the Championship now. We thank God for bringing us so far to this level. The most important thing for me now. Who says we cannot have our way and play the final match?
“We, the coaches need to do more, especially the players also need to work hard; they have gone so far and they must end the journey with victory. They need to be more serious, concentrate on their game and they should not see any team or player as superior to them.
“They will continue to play as a team and they must always wear the winning spirit at the back of their mind; they will make us victorious at the end of this match,” he said.
