Nikyu noted: “There has been remarkable improvement in my players since they resumed camp in July and now. I am happy to say they have been adhering to instructions during training sessions; they are much fitter now and are playing more cohesively. The mistakes that we noted when we started the camp have been largely corrected
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Speaking to journalists after the match, the head coach of the Flamingoes, Bala Nikyu, said he was not expecting to see many mistakes at this stage
Nikyu, who also led the Flamingoes at the last championship in Costa Rica, where Nigeria reached the quarterfinals, admitted that the players’s fitness is not yet at the level he desires, but added that everything is being put in place to make sure that the team improves tremendously before the end of this month
“The girls are confident of cementing their World Cup qualification and it can only be done if we do not underrate the South Africans, and go all out on the attack
Bantwana had not played an official match due to the withdrawal of Zambia earlier this year and lack of match fitness showed from the word go against the match fit and bigger Nigerians
While commending the girls for their outstanding performance in the 9-0 thrashing of Namibia in the last round of the qualification series, Sanusi told the girls to brace up for a stiffer test as South Africa’s Bantwana will pose a bigger challenge than the Namibians did
Bantwana will be looking to qualify for their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup after bowing out to Zambia in the final round of the previous qualifiers in 2013
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the competition will hold from September 30 to October 21 in Jordan
Namibia’s 26-man delegation to Saturday’s encounter, led by Timotheus Tjongarero, arrived in Lagos in the early hours of Thursday and flew to Abuja, arriving at 8am
A brace from Patri Guijarro and one from Nahikari Garcia were all the Europeans needed to book a place in the semi final of the competition at the expense of Bala Nikyu’s side as the Nigerians once again missed out on making it past the quarters
The result ended a seven-match unbeaten run for Nigeria at the tournament dating back to 2012, and fell one match short of the record sequence established by Japan between 2010 and 2012
The Europeans had a 3-0 win over the Super Eagles at the Confederations Cup, but Chiejine shrugged off any pressure when the Flamingoes lock horns with the Spanish girls for a place in the last four
The match, which would kick-off at 8pm local time on Thursday (3am in Nigeria on Friday), according to Nikyu, offers the Nigerian ladies the chance to continue with their excellent form at the age-grade competition
The Africans rarely looked liked being hauled in after racing to an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu
Bearing in mind Nigeria is yet to progress past the quarter-final and will be hoping to make a difference, she said, “We know God is behind us and going to do more grat things for us at this tournament. With God everything is going to be possible against Spain
Nigeria defeated Mexico with a deserved 3-0 scoreline with goals from Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu and Aminat Yakubu, helping the African giants to leapfrog their opponents at the top of Group D and set up a quarter-final showdown with Spain
Speaking at the post-match conference following their second Group D match at the Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium, Nikyu said his team’s comeback was however timely
Needing all three points to stay alive in Group D, Colombia burst out of the blocks with a third minute goal as Angie Rodriguez looped a header from a perfect Nancy Acosta cross over the head of stranded goalkeeper, Onyinyechukwu Okeke
The Flamingoes would at the Alejandra Morera Soto Stadium on Thursday face Colombia and Nikyu said that the National Under-17 Women’s team would approach the game against the South Americans with all seriousness
“I just pray God continue to keep me in form, so I can do my best at all time