U-17 Women’s World Cup: “I want to make my country proud” – Flamingos coach Akeem Busari

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria U-17 women’s national team head coach Akeem Busari has expressed his determination to make the country proud after guiding the Flamingos to the semi-finals of the ongoing 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

Busari made the remarks following Nigeria’s victory over Venezuela, which secured the team’s place in the last four of the competition.

The Nigerian coach described the achievement as a dream come true, while acknowledging that his players had to overcome mistakes and maintain their determination throughout the encounter.

Speaking after the match in an interview with FIFA, Busari praised his players for their commitment and willingness to keep fighting despite the challenges they encountered during the game.

“We gave everything on the pitch tonight. We wanted to keep the ball and play our game, but we made some mistakes. We kept pushing until the end,” the Nigerian tactician said.

The coach admitted that reaching the semi-finals was a significant milestone in his coaching career.

“Reaching the semi-finals is a dream come true for me and a great achievement. I’m looking forward to it because I want to make my country proud.

“We want to give our best in the next match and show everyone what we can do,” he added.

Nigeria secured their semi-final ticket courtesy of captain Azeezat Oduntan’s 89th-minute penalty, which handed the Flamingos a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Venezuela in their quarter-final encounter on Sunday.

The late winner came after Oluebube Umejiaku was fouled inside the penalty area, allowing Oduntan to step up and convert from the spot.

The victory also extended Nigeria’s impressive run in Morocco and kept their hopes of winning their first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title alive.

Busari and his players will now turn their attention to the semi-finals, where they are expected to face Brazil as they continue their quest for a place in the final.