Ikpeme Charges Flamingos To Keep Mexico Focus
Nigeria Draw Confidence From Korea DPR Win And 2014 Victory Over Mexico
Acting Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, has urged the Flamingos to put their impressive victory over Korea DPR behind them and focus on Thursday’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Round of 16 clash against Mexico in Morocco.
Ikpeme gave the charge on Wednesday during a visit to the team’s afternoon training session in Rabat, where he encouraged the players to remain focused and determined with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Nigeria face Mexico at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, Pitch 2, with kick-off scheduled for 4pm Nigerian time.
The Flamingos will draw confidence from their 3-1 victory over defending champions Korea DPR, which secured second place in Group B after an opening-day defeat to Poland and a 2-0 win against Puerto Rico.
Mexico also recovered from an opening defeat to Spain, beating Chile 3-1 after falling behind before edging Australia through a goal from captain Citlalli Reyes.
Thursday’s encounter will revive memories of the teams’ meeting at the 2014 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, where Nigeria recorded a commanding 3-0 victory in a Group D match on March 23.
Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu and Aminat Yakubu scored the goals that secured the Flamingos’ victory at the Estadio Nacional in San José.
Head coach Hakeem Busari had earlier reminded his players to forget their group-stage victories over Puerto Rico and Korea DPR and prepare for the increased intensity of knockout football.
Busari has his full squad of 21 players available for selection, with goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho and defenders Azeezat Oduntan, Ohunene Sunday, Esther Stephen and Kanyinsola Rodiat Yusuf among those likely to feature from the start.
Favour Nkwocha and Tosin Rafiu, who represented Nigeria’s Falconets at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland last month, could feature in midfield alongside Mary Dunstan.
In attack, Oluebube Umejiaku and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, who have scored two goals each in the tournament, are strong candidates to start. Precious Oscar and captain Harmony Chidi are also options, with Chidi having been benched for the group-stage encounter against Korea DPR.
The Flamingos will now seek to translate their group-stage momentum into another victory as they pursue a place in the last eight.
