Nigeria U17 girls, Coach, Bankole Olowookere expressed his confidence in the Flamingos’ ability to keep their feet on the pedal when they take on their Liberian counterparts in a FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final qualifying match in Abuja on Friday, June 14, 2024.

Having won the first leg in a commanding 4-1 fashion away at Monrovia on Sunday, June 9, 2024, the head coach has chalked off any talk of his girls resting on their laurels.

The hosts only got their consolation goal off a penalty awarded with five minutes left of the encounter at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville.

“We are battle-ready for the match on Friday. The girls are raring to go because they want to go to the World Cup. They are already dreaming of flying to the Dominican Republic.

“There is so much excitement in camp, and they are self-assured. However, I have warned them that it is never over until it is over. There should be no display of over-confidence on the pitch. We must approach the match like the first leg was a drawn game.”

Off an eight-goal qualifying series against Burkina Faso, Harmony Chidi, Shakirat Moshood, Peace Effiong and substitute Blessing Ifitezue banged in the goals for the Flamingos against Liberia.

The Flamingos will take part in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup for the seventh time if they jump over Friday’s hurdle.

They featured at the inaugural edition in New Zealand in 2008, and subsequently at Trinidad and Tobago in 2010, Azerbaijan in 2012, Costa Rica in 2014, Jordan in 2016 and India in 2022, where they won the bronze medals.