Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari has identified patience, tactical discipline and improved decision-making in attack as key areas Nigeria must master ahead of the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
With the tournament scheduled to begin on October 17, Busari revealed that the coaching crew has been working to improve the team’s ability to break down opponents who defend deep and restrict attacking space.
“One of our basic philosophies is that we want to keep the ball on the ground, we want to play to the flank, we want to have our crosses and we finish our work,” Busari said.
The coach explained that recent preparations have highlighted the difficulties of playing against teams that commit several players to defending.
“A lot of teams will sit back. They want to put ten behind the ball,” he stated.
Busari stressed that the Flamingos must avoid rushing their attacking moves when confronted with such opposition, warning that impatience could lead to unnecessary mistakes and loss of possession.
“We have to let our players understand that we have to be patient for us to have more penetrating passes,” he explained.
The Nigerian coach also emphasised the importance of maintaining composure and improving the team’s decision-making in possession.
“In a sport, there is more anxiety, more sort of quickness in it. We tend to lose the ball to them,” Busari observed.
He believes the Flamingos can create more scoring opportunities by moving the ball intelligently, stretching opposing defences and making better use of attacking spaces.
Busari added that the coaching crew has been working on different approaches to overcome compact defensive formations, including exploiting set pieces and shooting opportunities.
The coach expressed satisfaction with the progress being made, insisting that the players are gradually adapting to the technical demands of the tournament.
“The team is in progress, and we are improving every day,” he declared.
For Busari, Nigeria’s World Cup preparations are focused on combining attacking ambition with patience and tactical intelligence to overcome difficult opponents in Morocco.
