Anthony Sunday Samuel fondly refered to as Radio Messiah has praised Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari for his tactical intelligence and bold decisions following Nigeria’s remarkabl 3-1 victory over defending champions Korea DPR at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Speaking in an interview with Sports247, Samuel described the performance as a coaching masterclass, highlighting Busari’s ability to adjust his tactics and inspire a remarkable turnaround after Nigeria’s opening defeat.
“Massive credit to Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari and his coaching staff for the masterclass they pulled off to defeat the defending champions, Korea DPR, 3-1,” he said.
Samuel emphasised the significance of defeating Korea DPR, who had reportedly gone 18 matches without losing in regulation time since November 2018.
He praised Busari for making difficult selection decisions, including leaving his captain and another influential player on the bench.
“He even had to leave his captain and one of his best players on the bench to try a different approach, and it worked out for him,” Samuel explained.
“That is what good coaching is all about: studying your opponent, making bold decisions, trusting your players, and adjusting your tactics when necessary.”
Nigeria began the tournament with a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Poland before recovering to defeat Puerto Rico 2-0. The Flamingos subsequently produced their most impressive performance of the competition, beating Korea DPR 3-1 to qualify for the Round of 16.
Samuel believes the turnaround demonstrates Busari’s willingness to learn from setbacks and make necessary tactical adjustments.
“This is a testament to his ability to learn from setbacks, make the necessary changes, and get the best out of his players,” he stated.
Samuel also highlighted Busari’s achievements at the recent WAFU B U-17 Women’s Tournament.
According to Samuel, the Flamingos won all five matches, scored 17 goals, kept four clean sheets and conceded only twice on their way to winning the competition.
He believes those performances demonstrate the positive influence of Busari and his technical team. While acknowledging that more challenges lie ahead, Samuel expressed confidence in the team’s ability to continue improving.
“There is still work to be done, but if they can maintain this level of performance, continue making the right decisions, and build on the confidence gained from this victory, the Flamingos can go even further in the tournament,” he concluded.
