Busari demands greater composure as Flamingos prepare for Brazil semi-final

Flamingos head coach Hakeem Busari says his players must be more composed in front of goal if Nigeria are to overcome Brazil in the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

Nigeria’s U17 women reached the last four after a hard-fought 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Venezuela and will face Brazil on Wednesday.

Busari said he made tactical changes during the quarterfinal after the Flamingos failed to break the deadlock in the first half.

“We knew the way the team was going and the time the clock was running after we couldn’t get a goal in the first half,” he said.

“We tried to change the tactics in the second half. At a point, if we want to put the ball on the flank, it is going to be a decoy. It is not only that person who really wants to take the pass.”

The coach believes the changes helped Nigeria expose gaps in Venezuela’s defence, although he was unhappy with the number of opportunities his side failed to convert.

“That really opened their back and they still want to come and tackle almost all the time,” he added.

“There were some few balls we ought to have taken but their goalkeeper was a supreme goalkeeper. She comes out more often to really pick up the ball.”

Busari said the plan was to create one-on-one situations, giving Nigeria’s players the chance to use their individual ability.

“For every team, there are always strong points and weaker strengths. We were able to notice them more that the only way we can win this game is for us to open them more, so that we can have 1v1 and that’s where we can get our brilliance.”

He also identified a missed opportunity involving Oscar as an example of the finishing Nigeria must improve.

“Oscar too had one at a point in time but she was not looking up quickly and she would have been able to bury it.”

Despite those shortcomings, Busari is confident the Flamingos can continue their run and reach the final.

“We thank God for this now. We have been able to surpass this and the next one is Brazil and I know the good Lord who has been helping the Flamingos we see us through.”

However, he knows Nigeria will need to be sharper in the attacking third against Brazil. Busari believes good decision-making begins with the first touch and awareness of what is around the player.

“It is all about composure. One of the basic things that make you to score and have a goal being scored as easy as possible is ball reception, identification of where you are, and after the control for raising your head and looking at the kind of technique to use at that point in time,” he concluded.