2026 U-17 WWC: Flamingos showed courage in victory over North Korea – Busari
Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari commended his players for their determination following a decisive 3-1 victory over North Korea in their final group match of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Friday night. With this win, Nigeria secured a spot in the Round of 16.
The victory marked a significant turnaround for the Flamingos, who began the tournament with a disappointing 2-1 loss to Poland. The team rebounded in their second match, defeating Puerto Rico 2-0, before showcasing their skills against the reigning champions.
In a commanding performance, Nigeria consistently outperformed North Korea, although they had one goal disallowed due to a foul in the build-up.
Busari praised his players’ resilience in the face of a formidable opponent. “Everybody would have written Nigeria off, looking at Korea’s record and level of play. In two games, they scored 12 goals and conceded only one, while we won one and lost the other,” he said in a post-match interview.
He noted the stark contrast in outcomes, mentioning that the team that defeated Nigeria had also suffered a 6-1 defeat to North Korea. “But we took our courage and let our girls see that Poland are not a team we need to lose to,” Busari added.
The Flamingos will now face the runners-up from Group B in the Round of 16, set to take place in Sale on Thursday.
