Coach of Nigeria's U17 Women's National Team, Bala Nikyu believes his team does not deserve to go back home early from the ongoing FIFA U17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016.
The 52-year-old stated this against the backdrop of the Flamingoes playing out a frustrating goalless draw with the Young Lionesses of England. A result which means their destiny is no longer in their hands.
The Flamingoes had lost 1-0 to Brazil in their opening game and needed a win to keep their hope of advancing to the Quarter Finals burning, but in spite of a much better performance that yielded 32 attempts (5 on target), they could not even manage a goal.
"In the game of football, it is not playing well that gives you the trophy, it is the number of goals you are able to score," coach Nikyu explained at the press Conference after the game on Tuesday.
"We played well, we didn't score, but we want to thank God because we didn't lose and at the same time we are not happy.
"When you look at our team you will know that it's not a team that is supposed to go out of the competition this early, so definitely we will work towards that and see that we win the next match.
Nigeria will next play North Korea on October 8. The North Koreans, who are one of the most successful sides in the history of the U17 Women's World Cup, defeated Brazil 1-0 in the other match played at the Prince Mohammed International Stadium on Tuesday, to top Group C and ensure the group goes down to the wire.
The Flamingoes who are still bottom of the group with one point and a minus one goal difference now need to beat North Korea by two unreplied goals and hope for a barren draw between England and Brazil, to go through.
In the meantime, Coach Bala Nikyu had an explanation to give as to why they failed to score despite having loads of attempts against England who seemed to be tiring out in the second half.
"Out of the whole team we have just three people that have experience in the game while the others are just new, they are coming out for the first time in life, that is why they are a bit jittery when they go to the goal end.
"But having played Brazil and England, in the third match they should be able to believe that they can do it," he said.
By: Chibuogwu Nnadiegbulam from Jordan.
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