Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari has praised the resilience, discipline and fighting spirit of his players after Nigeria sealed qualification for the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with an 8-5 aggregate victory over Benin Republic.
Nigeria completed the job with an entertaining 5-3 victory in the second leg after taking a 3-2 advantage from the first leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, confirming another appearance for the Flamingos on the global stage.
Busari admitted the tie was far more difficult than many expected, paying tribute to the Beninese side for pushing his team throughout both encounters.
“I want to commend my players for the character they showed over the two legs. Benin made life very difficult for us, but the girls stayed committed to our game plan and deserved to qualify,” Busari said.
The Flamingos coach credited Nigeria’s success to the team’s tactical discipline, aggressive high pressing and determination to stick to their attacking philosophy despite coming under pressure at different stages of the contest.
Busari also reserved special praise for Benin Republic, describing the visitors as one of the most improved teams in the region and predicting a bright future for their young players.
“Benin has a very good team with talented players and they have a bright future ahead of them. They challenged us, but our tactical discipline and commitment made the difference,” he added.
Nigeria’s qualification continues the Flamingos’ impressive record in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. The team has become one of Africa’s most consistent performers at youth level, famously winning the bronze medal at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India—the country’s best-ever finish in the competition.
The Flamingos will now shift their attention to the next phase of preparations as they continue building towards the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, where Nigeria will once again aim to challenge the world’s best.
