Head Coach Bankole Olowookere said on Friday that Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, will not leave any room for a possible sucker punch as they take on their South African counterparts in a FIFA U17 World Cup qualifying match in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday.

“We are very much aware of the fact that it is never over until it is over. It will be foolish to assume otherwise. Yes, we won 3-1 away in South Africa, but the contest is still alive. That is our mentality. That has been at the heart of our preparations since we returned from Pretoria.

“My assistants and I have been working on the team’s mental strength while drumming it into the ears of the girls that focus is key. No loss of concentration is allowed. Our objective is to win on Saturday and make sure of a place in the final qualifying round.”

Shakirat Moshood scored once and Harmony Chidi netted a brace to earn Nigeria a 3-1 win in Pretoria last weekend – a seemingly comfortable position for a team hosting the return leg.

However, Cote d’Ivoire’s U17 girls showed that several things are still possible in football, when they hammered their Burundian counterparts 3-0 away after losing the first leg 3-1 in Abidjan, in these same qualifying series.

Olowookere added: “We learnt of the result of the Ivorians in the return leg against Burundi. It further underscored our insistence that the fixture is not over and done with. There is still 90 minutes to be played, and we must play it with our hearts and maximum mental strength.”

Match officials for Saturday’s encounter, which will commence at 4pm at the Remo Stars’ Stadium, arrived in Nigeria on Friday.

The winner of the fixture between Nigeria and South Africa will confront the winner of the fixture between Botswana and Algeria in the final qualification round, set for next month. Botswana won the first leg at home 2-1.

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Nigeria’s legendary captain, Joseph Yobo, has expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances of clinching a fourth TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title at the 2025 tournament, following the official draw held on Monday in Rabat, Morocco.

The Super Eagles were drawn into Group C alongside 2004 champions Tunisia, East African duo Uganda and Tanzania—co-hosts of the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.

Reflecting on the group and Nigeria’s historical pedigree, Yobo, a key figure in Nigeria’s last AFCON triumph in 2013, was optimistic about the team’s prospects.

“We have a good young crop and a new generation of players that have been together for a long time, so I don’t think that understanding is a problem for them,” Yobo said.

“Looking at the group, it’s never going to be easy for us, but knowing the Super Eagles, coming out of the group is never a problem.”

Nigeria heads into the tournament with a storied AFCON history, boasting 16 medals from 20 appearances, including three titles (1980, 1994, and 2013), five runner-up finishes, and eight bronze medals.

The team narrowly missed adding a fourth star in 2023, falling 2-1 to Côte d’Ivoire in the final.

Yobo, who was also one of the assistants during Monday’s draw, emphasized that the team’s focus should not just be on progressing through the group stage but on securing the ultimate prize.

“I hope that we start very well and we can take that momentum to the final. We are building on our last performance at AFCON 2023, and it’s about time we get our hands on the trophy again. I think we have the players and a wonderful new coach to do that.”

Tunisia, the most decorated opponent in Group C after Nigeria, will pose a significant challenge.

The North Africans famously knocked out the Super Eagles in the 2021 Round of 16 and boast one AFCON title from their 21 appearances.

Uganda, making their eighth appearance, and Tanzania, featuring for only the fourth time, will aim to upset the odds.

Yobo, however, remained confident, highlighting Nigeria’s depth and the recent improvements under their new coach. “We do have a very good team, the players are improving. It’s all about carrying that energy from the group stages and keeping the momentum,” he noted.

AFCON 2025, scheduled from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, promises thrilling encounters with 24 nations vying for glory in Morocco.

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