By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
With two days to the crucial FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022 African qualifiers third round first leg match between Nigeria’s Flamingos and Egypt U-17 team at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Head Coach Oloowokere Bankole said he is targeting a comfortable win on Sunday to make the return leg tie in Cairo a mere academic exercise.
In an exclusive interview with Prompt News Online on Friday after Flamingos rounded off their training at the match venue, Bankole revealed that he has an idea about the football philosophy of the Egyptians and has been working with his team to peg them back in whatever tactics their opponents will employ when both teams clash on Sunday.
Said he: “I am aware that our Egyptian opponents have not played a match to reach this third round as they walked over Guinea Bissau.
“So we don’t know how the team is shaped. But that is not a problem because I know the football philosophy of the North African teams especially Egypt.
“I have clear idea what they can do and how to counter any tactics they will adopt in the match”.
Bankole who is also the Technical Adviser of Naija Ratel FC, a Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) top team also believes that the Flamingos have what it takes to beat Egypt’s U-17 women’s team on Sunday if the performance of the home side is anything to rely upon.
“I believe I and my assistants have prepared our girls well enough to get us the desired victory. I don’t expect anything less than a comfortable home victory to make our return leg encounter in Cairo an easy task”, the coach posited.
To reach this stage Nigeria had over two-legs in the second round played last March humiliated Democratic Republic of Congo 8-0 aggregate score by walloping the Congolese 3-0 away at Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa courtesy of goals by Blessing Emmanuel, Opeyemi Ajakaiye and Tumininu Adeshina.
Flamingos also thrashed DR Congo U-17 girls 5-0 in the return leg tie at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City with goals from Ajakaye 5′, 14′; Adeshina 23′; Anastasia Atume 62′ and Taiwo Afolabi 88′.
Meanwhile, Bankole has listed 20 players including the above goalscorers in the two previous matches in the squad to face Egypt on Sunday.
The list comprised of two goalkeepers, seven defenders, four midfielders and seven forwards.
Goalkeepers: Faith Omilana, Linda Jiwuaku
Defenders: Blessing Sunday, Comfort Folorunsho, Tumininu Adeshina, Olamide Oyinlola, Omamuzo Edafe, Miracle Usani, Confidence Nwoha
Midfielders: Blessing Emmanuel, Taiwo Afolabi, Chidera Okenwa, Joy Igbokwe
Forwards: Aminat Bello, Mercy Itimi, Alvine Da-Zossu, Anastasia Atume, Opeyemi Ajakaiye, Yetunde Ayantosho, Adaobi Okah.
