Nigeria’s cadet female national team, Flamingos have received a huge administrative boost ahead of their trip on Monday to Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, where they will compete in this year’s West African Football Union (WAFU)-B U17 Girls Tournament.
Sports247 reports that the Flamingos’ trip will come barely 24 hours before the competition kicks-off, but the players will travel with the words of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) acting general-secretary, Dr Ikpeme Ikpeme ringing reassuringly in their ears.
The boost for Coach Hakeem Busari’s squad came after Ikpeme paid the team a visit at their camp and gave them comforting words, as they prepare to fly out of the country on Monday ahead of the competition, whose final Nigeria reached at the inaugural edition in 2024.
He recalled the previous Flamingos’ squad was only unlucky to lose the 2024 final on penalties to the host nation, Ghana, after a 2-2 stalemate at full time, hence his charge that Busari’s side should go all out in order to rewrite history and return home with the trophy in their grip.
Ikpeme further described this week’s sub-regional contest as a preparation point for the Flamingos ahead of the upcoming Female Cadet Mundial, where he pointed out that they would do better once they go there with confidence gained from winning in Côte d’Ivoire.
The NFF’s acting scribe stated pointedly, “I want you girls to go all out and win the trophy in Yamoussoukro, so that you can possess a winning mentality ahead of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
“The tournament in Yamoussoukro is a good preparatory programme for you ahead of the FIFA World Cup. I believe your coaches have told you how important it is to go there with confidence and positive energy to conquer.”
