Flamingos head coach, Bankole Olowookeere, has acknowledged that his team had a shaky start to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup but assured fans of a much-improved performance in the knockout stage.
After a disappointing opening game, Nigeria bounced back emphatically with a commanding 4-0 victory over Samoa to secure their place in the Round of 16.
“Our start was disappointing, and we tried to make up for that,” Bankole said after the match. “The girls are happy now and motivated—they still want to be part of this tournament; they don’t want to go home.”
The coach emphasized that the win was crucial to restoring confidence and keeping their ambitions alive. “We just had to put up a strong performance to remain among the contenders for this tournament. It’s good that we’re facing strong opposition it will prepare us for the next game.”
Bankole also noted areas that still need improvement, adding, “We have to work on those spaces where the opponents were able to penetrate our defense.”
