Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FC head coach, Abubakar Ibrahim, has hailed Nigeria’s Flamingos after they failed to progress to the final at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.
DAILY POST reports that the Flamingos lost 6-5 in a penalty shootout against Colombia on Wednesday afternoon.
The World Cup game ended in a 0-0 draw after 90 minutes at the Fatorda Stadium.
It’s the first time Nigeria will be playing in the semi-final of the competition.
Reacting to the outcome of the match, Ibrahim told DAILY POST that the Flamingos tried their best to even get to the semi-final of the competition.
He also pointed out some issues that could have contributed to Nigeria’s defeat to Colombia.
“The girls have tried. But the reaction of the players shows that there is an issue. They are supposed to be jubilating and happy but look at their their reaction, their reaction speaks,” Ibrahim told DAILY POST on Wednesday.
“Even the coach tried, but there are some certain instances he needs to ginger them or motivate them. You know, as a player, you need motivational talks. The way he talks to them motivates them and contributes.
“Thanks to the players, it is a big one for them to play a semi-final, and if you look at our Nigerian system in sports issues, it is something that comes back to yesterday’s issues, it is just a repetition.
“Like this camp issue, how many months do they spend in the camp? If you look at Colombia, how many months did they spend? Like the USA? All these things contribute. The girls have tried, having spent four or five months in the camp.”
Nigeria will now face the loser between Germany and Spain in the third-place match on Sunday.
