7th September, 2010
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Aminu Maigari has warned Nigeria’s U-17 Women’s team, The Flamingoes, not to let Sunday’s 3-2 victory over defending champions Korea DPR get into their heads but they should remain focused.
The Flamingoes kick started their campaign at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad & Tobago with a 3-2 victory over Korea and Maigari believes the victory would spur the team to do well.
Maigari, while expressing joy over the team’s performance, said the victory is a clear pointer to the fact that the team can go places if they are focused.
He noted that the victory has revealed that female football in Nigeria is improving after the Falconets came second at the last FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany.
“It is good that our ladies have started their campaign on a winning note but I want to advise the players that they still have a long way to go in the tournament. They should not see the victory over Korea DPR as the best they can achieve. They should aim for the ultimate, which is the trophyâ€.
Nigeria began their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago with a bang, edging defending champions Korea DPR in a topsy-turvy contest at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
Nigeria were the slightly better of the two sides in the first half of the Group A contest played in sweltering temperatures, scoring the go-ahead goal after only three minutes of play. Victoria Aidelomon put on a clinic out right before crossing for Ngozi Okobi, the veteran of New Zealand 2008.
—Adebobola Alawode