Coach Bankole Olowookere has backed the Flamingos to beat New Zealand later today to get their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Dominican Republic off to a winning.
“We do not underrate any of our opponents. However, we will take it one match at a time and produce our best in each game in order to go all the way,” he said.
“I have confidence in the girls to deliver the goods at this competition. We have come well-prepared to do even better than we did in India. The Nigeria Football Federation have done everything to prepare the team well, with a two-week final camping here in Dominican Republic.”
Nigeria and New Zealand will do battle at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros from 4pm local time (9pm in Nigeria).
After the encounter with New Zealand on Wednesday night, the Flamingos will confront their counterparts from Ecuador, also at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, before their final group phase game against the host nation at the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo.
The clash with Ecuador is on Saturday, 19th October while the battle with the host nation is on Tuesday, 22nd October.
The Flamingos finished an impressive third in India two years ago.
In the qualifying campaign for this year’s finals, the Nigerian girls notched 25 goals in six matches, with 13 of them scored by striker Harmony Chidi.
