Busari backs Flamingos to recover against Puerto Rico at U-17 World Cup

Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari says Nigeria are ready to respond to their opening defeat when they face tournament debutants Puerto Rico in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Tuesday.

Nigeria were beaten 2-1 by Poland in their first Group B match in Rabat last Saturday, leaving victory against Puerto Rico vital to their hopes of reaching the Round of 16.

The teams will meet at Mohammed VI Stadium, Pitch 4, in Rabat, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm Nigerian time.

Busari said his players had assessed their performance against Poland and identified the areas that needed correcting before their second group fixture.

“We have reviewed our first match against Poland, and I can say we have learnt our lessons. We will improve in every aspect of the game to avoid the mistakes that led to our first defeat,” Busari told reporters.

The Flamingos coach added that the team had also studied Puerto Rico’s opening match against North Korea as part of their preparations.

“We have also watched the North Korea versus Puerto Rico match, and I believe we now have a good understanding of how to approach our next game,” he said.

Nigeria must avoid another defeat if they are to maintain a realistic chance of progressing from Group B. Puerto Rico will be making its first appearance at the tournament, while Busari is confident the lessons from the loss to Poland can help his side produce an improved display.