Coach Bankole Olowookere of Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, don dey confident say his team go make Nigeria proud for the 2024 FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup wey dey happen for Dominican Republic.
The Flamingos don start the tournament well, winning their first two matches with impressive scores. Dem beat New Zealand 4-1 for the first match, and den follow up with another big win of 4-0 against Ecuador on Saturday. Dis wins mean say Nigeria don qualify for the quarter-final stage with one match still to play for the group stage.
Olowookere praise his players for following the tactical plans wey dem set for the games. “Tactically, we don get convincing wins and I want to thank the players for adhering to the tactics. Dem be kids and sometimes dem dey filled with anxiety, but I always calm dem down. During training, we get game plans and I always tell dem to go by the game plan and assure dem say the goals go come,” he say.
The coach also thank Nigerian fans for their support and urge dem to continue backing the team. “I no go change our messages to Nigerians but to thank and appreciate dem for their support. Dem should keep supporting us and having kept these vigils, it no go in vain…. Anytime dem dey watch us, we ready to give dem joy, we ready to make dem proud of us and that’s what I’ve done.”
The Flamingos go face the host country, Dominican Republic, for their final group-stage match on Wednesday at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo.
