“Who First Call Police No Dey Win Case” – Akeem Busari Stays Calm Despite Flamingos’ 3-2 Win Over Benin

Nigeria's Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari has played down concerns following his side's nervy 3-2 victory over the Benin Republic in the first leg of the final qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

The thrilling encounter, played on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, saw the Nigerian girls secure a narrow advantage ahead of next week's decisive second leg.

Although the Flamingos emerged victorious, conceding two goals at home has sparked discussions among fans. However, Busari remains unfazed, delivering a message that reflected confidence and composure.

His response was summed up in a popular Nigerian expression:

"Who first call police no dey win case."

For the coach, there is no reason to panic after the first leg because the battle is only halfway through.

Speaking after the match, Busari admitted that his team made costly mistakes, but stressed that football is a game of human errors.

According to him, the coaching crew had adequately prepared the players for Benin's attacking approach before kickoff, but one moment of poor defensive communication allowed the visitors back into the game.

"We reviewed how they attack and prepared for different situations. Unfortunately, human errors happen in football, and we take responsibility for that," Busari explained.

Rather than dwelling on the mistakes, the coach immediately encouraged his players to remain calm and reorganize, a response that eventually helped Nigeria maintain their advantage until the final whistle.

One of the key talking points after the match was the mistake that led to one of Benin Republic's goals.

Instead of criticizing the player publicly, Busari defended her player, insisting that every footballer is capable of making mistakes.

He revealed that some players recover mentally faster than others, and as a coach, it is his responsibility to rebuild confidence rather than destroy it.

"If we remove every player after making a mistake, when are we going to have a team?" he asked.

Busari emphasized that coaching is about communication, trust, and helping players learn from difficult moments.

He added that despite the error, the player continued to fight until the end of the game, demonstrating courage and commitment.

The Flamingos created numerous scoring opportunities but failed to convert many of them.

Busari admitted his disappointment, noting that clinical finishing has always been one of his team's strengths.

He believes the scoreline would have looked completely different had Nigeria converted even half of the chances created.

"If we had taken about 50 percent of our chances, the game could have ended 7-2," the coach said.

He also revealed that conceding an early goal affected his players psychologically, forcing them to rush their play instead of maintaining their normal passing rhythm.

According to him, the team abandoned its usual patient build-up because anxiety crept into their game after falling behind.

Busari also acknowledged the quality of Benin Republic's standout player, describing her as someone already operating at senior international level.

He admitted that such experience naturally makes a difference in youth football.

However, he quickly pointed out that football remains a team game.

Rather than focusing on one individual, the Flamingos concentrated on limiting her influence by studying her strengths, preferred foot, movement, and decision-making.

The coach said these tactical observations would become even more important ahead of the return leg.

Despite the narrow one-goal advantage, Busari remains optimistic that Nigeria will complete the job away from home.

For him, there is no need for panic after the first leg.

Instead, the focus is on correcting defensive mistakes, improving finishing, and preparing mentally for another difficult encounter.

His confidence was evident throughout his post-match interview, where he repeatedly reminded everyone that qualification is earned through preparation, determination, and hard work.

"The qualification will not come by magic," Busari said.

"It is about hard work, dedication, and determination."

Nigeria now heads into the second leg knowing that victory over two matches will secure a place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco.

While the first leg exposed areas needing improvement, it also showed the Flamingos' resilience in responding to setbacks.

For Akeem Busari, the message is clear.

The first leg has been played, but the case is not yet closed.

As the coach jokingly implied with his memorable remark, "Who first call police no dey win case."

The real verdict will be delivered after the final whistle of the second leg, where the Flamingos will hope to seal another FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualification for Nigeria.