The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has announced the appointment of Akeem Ishola Busari as the Head Coach of the U-17 Girls National Team, Flamingos.
Busari replaces Bankole Olowookere who has been with the Flamingos for many years, including leading the team to win the bronze medals at the 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in India.
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His immediate task is to lead the Flamingos in the soon-to-commence race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, which will be hosted by Morocco.
The Flamingos are on standby to face the winner of the preliminary clash between Niger Republic and Guinea, with the first leg away from home in the third week of next month.
The new Flamingos chief strategist is presently the Head Coach of Pacesetter Queens Football Club of Ibadan.
2 Comments
Hmm, na wa o!
My American friends might call this appointment of Coach Akeem Busari for the U17 Flamingo side a DEI hire (diversity, ethnicity, Inclusion).
It is the worst kept secret that the Flamingos’ head coach role, the role at the bottom of the food chain in the national teams, is reserved for a Yoruba person.
The previous gaffer Mr Bankole is of Oduduwa ancestry.
Apart from his ethnic credentials, what does Mr Akeem Busari bring to the table?
Why not let’s start with the league table where his Pacesetters Queens are setting the pace towards the bottom of the league table having recorded just 1 win in 12 matches, losing a massive 9 and drawing an almighty 2 matches!
Hardly the quintessential requirements for bagging a national team assignment.
Just this week, this Tuesday, his Pacesetters thespians recorded a 0:1 home loss to Bayelsa Queens in Ibadan: the only away win of MD13 league fixtures – no greater indication of Pacesetters Queens struggles need be sought.
Pacesetters Queens are now romancing relegation with relentlessness.
What about coaches of high flying clubs in the league this season like Edo Queens, Bayelsa Queens, Robo Queens, Abia Angels or Ibom Queens? Oops! They are not Yoruba clubs.
Does that mean Mr Akeem Busari is doomed to fail in the national team? I would not go as far as writing him off.
As of the time of typing this post, I was simultaneously watching Pacesetters Queens play Edo Queens where Busari played what resembles 4-4-2 formation.
He wants his girls to attack with fearlessness and defend cheek-by-jowl. He values wing play and promotes quick transition from defence to attack.
With a wide, wide global pool of players to select from for national team assignments, perhaps the quality of his approach will shine brighter than has been the case in the league….
Hopefully…
“With a wide, wide global pool of players to select from for national team assignments, perhaps the quality of his approach will shine brighter than has been the case in the league….”
Hehehehehe
There was a wide global pool for Bankole at the last world cup and guess where most of his super stud but embarrassing players came from?
I felt “humiliated” when I read your background of the coach and his antecedents.
There is no more reason why our cadet teams have flattered to deceive under Gusau.
Doomed from the start, this appointment is.
May the affliction of Gusau and his board and any such Ill like manner of men like him eyeing September not arise again.
I am not holding my breath on this coach.
He will not make the world cup.
Two reasons:
His history (a coach is as good as his last result)
NFF, better put, Gusau NFF. FIFA has made under 17 wwc every year till 2029 at least.
NFF will not find grade A friendlies for the team; NFF just appointed a coach for the team 500 years after the last disaster, NFF has made the coach then to result to familiar faces because, thankfully, since Nigeria is the only team who drew a bye in the first round as the highest ranked on the continent, we aren’t going to play until end of May.
I dare NFF to shock me with friendly matches this month when other nations are playing first round qualifiers. They won’t.
So long, Nigeria football, so long