Flamingos coach calls for better performance after win against Puerto Rico

Nigeria’s Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari has urged his players to step up their game despite winning 2-0 against Puerto Rico at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. He said the team needs to be more effective in front of goal as the competition heats up.

The Nigerian team bounced back from their opening 2-1 loss to Poland with this hard-fought victory. This win gave them their first three points in the tournament and kept their hopes of qualifying for the Round of 16 alive.

Although Busari was happy with the win, he pointed out that the players missed several chances in the first half, which could have made the game easier.

At the post-match press conference, the Flamingos coach acknowledged how important the win was. He noted that Puerto Rico entered the game knowing that another loss would put their chances of qualifying at serious risk.

“It was a very thorough and strong win because Puerto Rico knew this was a game that could decide their fate. It was a really tough contest between both sides,” Busari said.

The coach expressed concern about Nigeria’s failure to convert their early chances. He explained that being more efficient in the attacking area could have allowed his team to take control of the game sooner.

“We were unable to convert our chances in the first half, with a couple of misses. Unfortunately, we only got the second goal towards the tail end of the game, but it was a very tough match.

“They are not pushovers. The competition is getting tougher and more intense.”

The victory also served as a much-needed boost for Nigeria after their disappointing loss to Poland on the first day of the tournament. Busari mentioned that managing the players’ emotions after that setback was key to preparing for the match against Puerto Rico.

Instead of criticizing the young players, the coach said the technical team focused on encouragement and helping them learn how to bounce back from disappointment. For Busari, remaining calm and learning from mistakes is just as important as winning.

“As a handler, when you are down, you look at it and ask yourself, how do you come back? This was what we were discussing and telling the lads,” he said.

“They are young, so we don’t need to bully them or criticise anyone. It’s all about counselling and telling them what they need to do.”

Busari also admitted that Nigeria did not perform at their best against Puerto Rico. Still, he felt encouraged by how much calmer the team was compared to their performance against Poland.

“Today, we were not exceptional. We are just calmer today than we were during the Poland game, so I think that is a good thing.”

As the Flamingos prepare for a tough match against defending champions North Korea, Busari hopes this victory will give his players the confidence they need. He also knows they must improve significantly to face stronger opponents.

While Busari focused on the overall team performance, substitute Precious Oscar had a personal milestone to celebrate after scoring Nigeria’s second goal. Her contribution was key to the victory, and she expressed her gratitude after scoring her first goal at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Oscar revealed that she prayed before entering the pitch, hoping to make a positive impact and ease the pressure on her teammates.

“First of all, I’m grateful to God Almighty because it is by His grace,” she said. “Before I entered the pitch, I prayed to God, asking Him to help me because anything can happen. I asked Him to help me relieve the pressure on my team. To God be the glory, I’m happy that I did it.

“This is my first-ever World Cup goal, and I’m so happy about it.”

Oscar’s important contribution highlights the value of Nigeria’s bench strength, especially in a tournament where matches can become demanding as the group stage goes on. She shared that her experience at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup earlier this year helped her feel more confident and motivated her teammates when she entered the game.

The forward said she used lessons from her previous U-20 World Cup to remind the Flamingos that the match was not over and they still had a chance to secure a win.

“Yes, it really helped. It was about taking the experience from that tournament and bringing it into this year’s U-17 World Cup,” she explained.

“When I entered the pitch, I had to encourage my teammates and tell them that it wasn’t over and that anything could happen. So, we kept pushing despite the pressure.”

As Nigeria gets ready to face North Korea in their next Group B match, Oscar has made it clear that the Flamingos are aiming for another win. North Korea has shown themselves to be one of the strongest teams in the tournament, scoring 12 goals in their first two matches against Puerto Rico and Poland.

The quality of the defending champions in attack poses a big challenge for Nigeria. But Oscar believes the win over Puerto Rico will give them a confidence boost for the next match.

When asked about the team’s mindset going into the game, the forward kept it simple.

“Our mindset is to win, and I thank God for these three points because they will boost me and my teammates to come out stronger in the game against North Korea.”

The Flamingos will need to combine their confidence with better finishing and solid defense to compete with the Asian champions.