2026 U-17 WWC: ‘Today Was A Tough Game, But We Are No Pushovers’ –Flamingos Coach Reacts To Win Against Mexico

Nigeria’s Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari has acknowledged the immense difficulty of his side’s victory over Mexico, praising his players’ resilience after securing a quarter-final berth at the ongoing 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The Flamingos took control of the match in the 40th minute when Oluebube Umejiaku broke the deadlock with a clinical strike, rewarding Nigeria’s persistent first-half dominance.

Read Also:2026 U-17 WWC: Umejiaku Awarded Player Of The Match In Flamingos’ Victory Over Mexico

Busari’s side maintained their tactical composure after the restart and extended their lead in the 72nd minute through Mary Akpan Dunstan, placing the team in a commanding position to seal qualification.

Mexico mounted a frantic late comeback, pulling a goal back through Emily Delgado in the 10th minute of stoppage time, but the Nigerian defense stood firm to preserve the 2-1 win and secure a spot in the last eight.

Read Also:FIFA U-17 WWC: Flamingos Beat Mexico 2-1, Set Up Quarterfinal Clash With Venezuela

Reflecting on the intense battle in a post-match interview with FIFA.com, Busari admitted that the high stakes of the knockout rounds brought added pressure, but insisted his team proved their mental toughness.

“When you come into this kind of competition, and you get to the knockout stages, it’s more tactical and there’s a lot of intensity involved because they’re young and anxiety comes,” Busari said. “Today was a tough game, but we’re no pushovers.”

Austin Akhilomen is a passionate sports content writer with a strong interest in football. He is a fan of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Chelsea, and he enjoys following the teams, players, and competitions that make the sport exciting. Austin writes sports news, match reports, and football content to keep readers informed about the latest developments in the sporting world. His passion for sports also drives his aim to promote the game and connect football fans across the globe. Through his work with Complete Sports, Austin shares engaging sports content with readers and brings his love for football into every story he writes.