Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has charged Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, to remain united, disciplined, and focused as they prepare for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The team arrived safely in Casablanca on Wednesday after a four-hour flight from Abuja, ahead of the global showpiece which begins on October 17.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Taribo met the players and offered words of encouragement and prayers for their success in the tournament.
The former Inter Milan and AC Milan star urged the girls to emulate the Super Falcons, who recently won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, stressing that discipline and faith would be crucial to their success.
“Be very disciplined. I’ll be watching and praying for you. I believe you will bring the cup home just like your elder sisters did,” he said.
He advised the players to listen closely to their coaches and maintain professionalism, noting that his long career in Europe was built on discipline and respect for instructions.
“Be attentive to your coaches. I played professional football for 30 years, and today, one of my ex-managers still invites me because of the relationship and discipline I showed,” he said.
Taribo also cautioned the players against distractions from fans during matches, urging them to trust their coaches’ tactics.
“Whatever the coach says, play it. Don’t listen to the crowd. If you listen to the crowd, they’ll take you out. But if you listen to the coach, even he will like you and want you to play,” he added.
He concluded by emphasizing teamwork and humility, encouraging players to support one another whether they are on the pitch or not.
“God will give you grace. If the coach doesn’t play you, bless and pray for the one who plays. That unity will bring strength and incredible performance to the team,” he said.
The Flamingos are currently camped at the Ibis Hotel in Casablanca, where they held a light training session on Wednesday evening. They will face New Zealand and Paraguay in friendly matches before moving to Marrakesh for their group-stage fixtures.
Nigeria are drawn in Group D alongside Canada, France, and Samoa. The team goes into the World Cup in high spirits, having won all ten of their preparatory matches, scoring 44 goals without conceding any.