Ajibade Fires up Flamingoes Teammates

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Nigeria  captain Rasheedat Ajibade has told her  Flamingoes teammates to give  their all in their last Jordan 2016 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup Group C clash  against Korea DPR in  Amman on Saturday.

Nigeria are rooted to the bottom of the table  on one point – after they failed  to score against Brazil and England.

The Flamingoes lost 1-0 to Brazil and battled to a goalless draw against England. Korea  DPR top the group on six points, followed by Brazil on  three points. England are third on  two points.

Although Nigeria have an outside chance of making it to the quarterfinals, Lagos club Robo striker Ajibade, who represented the country at the Costa Rica 2014  FIFA Under-17 Women’s  World Cup, has not given up hope.  The Flamingoes were bundled out in the quarterfinals of Costa Rica 2014  by Spain, who beat them 3-0.She  said the team must aim for victory  against the Koreans on Saturday.

“In the next game (against Korea DPR), we need to work on finishing our chances,” Ajibade  was quoted by  FIFA.com as saying on Thursday.

“We’ve not managed to score in two games. Obviously that has to change.”

She added,  “The important thing is that we recognise we need a win. And if we do exactly what the coach tells us, then I’m convinced we’ll get a positive result.”

Ajibade blamed the team’s striking problems  in the tournament on a lack of experience, saying they must do a better job this time round.

The 16-year-old said, “Our players don’t have that much experience, so it can happen that they doubt themselves.

“So, with my experience, I try to be by their side and give them encouragement. I always say to them: ‘You can do this! So come on, let’s get out there and win!’”

Ajibade added,  “I came to the tournament with the aim of getting a better result this time round, and I think my experience from two years ago will help me. I really believe in our strengths as a team and I know we can achieve that.”