Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari has warned his players against complacency after Nigeria’s stunning 3-1 victory over defending champions Korea DPR secured their passage into the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Busari insists the hard work must continue, stressing that qualification is only the beginning as Nigeria pursue a place in the quarter-finals and aim to build on their impressive performance against one of the tournament’s most formidable sides.
“The competition is not over. The competition has just started because going into the next round is another ball game,” the coach said.
The Flamingos delivered a commanding display in their final Group B fixture on October 23, ending Korea DPR’s remarkable run of almost eight years without a defeat in regular time at the competition.
Oluwakemi Adegbuyi opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku doubled Nigeria’s lead seven minutes before half-time. Kanyinsola Yusuf then produced a superb free-kick in the 56th minute to make it 3-0, before Yu Jong-hyang converted a late penalty for Korea DPR.
The victory completed Nigeria’s recovery from an opening 2-1 defeat to Poland. They subsequently beat Puerto Rico 2-0 to finish the group stage with six points and qualify in second place behind Korea DPR.
Busari has urged his players to keep encouraging one another, remain focused on the bigger picture and recognise the demands of competing on football’s global stage at their age.
The Flamingos will face Mexico in the Round of 16 on Thursday, October 29, with a quarter-final place at stake. Mexico also finished second in its group after victories over Chile and Australia, making the encounter another significant test for Nigeria.
For Busari and his team, the mission is now to turn the confidence gained from defeating the reigning champions into another disciplined performance when the knockout contest begins.
