Tag: Bankole Olowookere

Nigeria’s opening game at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup ended in disappointment as the Flamingos suffered a 4-1 defeat to Canada in Salé, Morocco — a match that showcased a tale of missed chances and tactical brilliance from both dugouts.

While Nigeria’s head coach, Bankole Olowookere, rued his team’s early wastefulness and defensive lapses, Canada’s boss, Jens Herst, revealed how tactical adjustments after halftime helped her side take full control.

 “This was a huge game. Sometimes mistakes happen,” Olowookere admitted after the match.  “We had our chances in the first half but didn’t take advantage of them, and we paid dearly for it. It’s a lesson we’ll keep learning. We’ll go back, review our performance, and see how we can bounce back stronger.”

On the opposite end, Herst credited Canada’s second-half dominance to strategic changes aimed at neutralizing Nigeria’s physical and fast-paced approach.

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“We knew Nigeria would be a physical team strong in transition,” Herst explained. “We were prepared to withstand that in the first half. Then, at half-time, we made a few tweaks — pushing our line higher, pressing more aggressively, and applying pressure with our wingers and full-backs.”

 “That adjustment really turned the tide and put the game in our favour,” she added.

The result leaves Nigeria with work to do in Group D as they look to rebound in their next fixture and keep their qualification hopes alive.

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has selected attacking midfielder Shakirat Moshood, goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu, defender Jumai Adebayo and forward Queen Joseph among a squad of 21 players to fly Nigeria’s flag at this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in Morocco.

The Flamingos arrived in Morocco’s commercial and industrial capital, Casablanca, on Wednesday, for the final phase of preparations for the competition, which will take place 17th October – 8th November.

Bankole, who led Nigeria to a bronze medal-finish at the 2022 edition of the competition in India, is confident that the Class of 2025 have what it takes to go steps higher than his 2022 bronze winners.

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Goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface, defenders Azeezat Oduntan and Christiana Sunday, midfielders Muinat Rotimi and Zainab Raji, and forwards Chisom Nwachukwu and Mariam Yahaya are also included.

The Flamingos have been drawn in Group D, alongside Canada, France, and Samoa. Nigeria will kick off their campaign against Canada on Sunday, October 19, before facing France three days later — both matches scheduled for 8 pm Nigerian time at the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 2) and Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 1) in the city of Sale. Their final group stage encounter will be against Samoa on October 25, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. at the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 3) still in Sale.

21 Flamingos for  2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Finals

Goalkeepers: Elizabeth Boniface (Abia Angels); Onyinyechi Opara (Imo Strikers); Sylvia Echefu (Bayelsa Queens)

Defenders: Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Jumai Adebayo (Rivers Angels); Azeezat Oduntan (FC Robo); Christiana Sunday (Imo Strikers); Nofisat Tijani (Youthful Talent 99); Fatimoh Shuaib (Nasarawa Amazons)

Midfielders: Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens); Muinat Rotimi (Nakamura Football Academy); Shavih Istifanus (Youth Arise Academy); Zainab Raji (Dannaz FC); Waliat Rotimi (Nakamura Football Academy); Ayomide Abubakar (Onimarg FC)

Forwards: Kaosarat Olanrewaju (Ayishat Yusuf Academy, Lagos); Mariam Yahaya (FC Robo); Queen Joseph (Fosla Academy); Tabitha Terlumu (Braavos, Edo); Precious Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers); Chisom Nwachukwu (Rivers Angels).

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has invited a total of 30 players to the camp of Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, as the team kick-starts preparations for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, taking place in Morocco.

Invited are four goalkeepers, nine defenders, nine midfielders and nine strikers.

2022 FIFA World Cup bronze medallists, Nigeria overpowered South Africa and Algeria in the qualifying series to pick a ticket to the first-ever 24-team FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, which will be played across four venues in two cities in Morocco, 17^th  October – 8th November.

Venues earmarked for the finals (the first of five straight final tournaments to be hosted by Morocco) are the Prince Héritier Moulay el-Hassan Sports Complex, Prince Moulay Abdellah Sport Complex, Al Barid Stadium and Mohamed VI Football Academy.

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The invited players are expected to arrive camp in Abuja on Sunday, 7^th  September.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS

Goalkeepers: Elizabeth Boniface (Abia Angels); Onyinyechi Opara (Imo Strikers); Abigail Nmecha (Team Abia); Sylva Echefu (Bayelsa Queens)

Defenders: Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels); Azeezat Oduntan (FC Robo); Christiana Sunday (Imo Strikers); Ufuoma Lucky (Royal Queens, Warri); Choice Ovwighovwiroro (New Generation, Abuja); Maryjane Ikeche (Ahudiyannem Queens); Blessed Isigbo (Remo Stars Ladies); Grace Ufot (Fortress Ladies)

Midfielders: Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens); Muinat Rotimi (Nakamura Football Academy); Fatimah Shuaib (Confluence Queens); Waliat Rotimi (Nakamura Football Academy); Taiwo Lukman (Confluence Queens); Esther Lasisi (N-Youth, Abuja); Precious Nkwocha (Imo Strikers); Gift Anekan (New Generation, Abuja); Ayomide Abubakar (Onimarg FC)

Forwards: Kaosara Olanrewaju (Aisha Yusuf Academy, Lagos); Kindness Ifeanyi (Bayelsa Queens); Queen Joseph (Fosla Academy); Shavih Istifanus (Youth Arise Academy); Tabitha Terlumu (Braavos, Edo); Destiny Itodore (Delta Queens); Chisom Nwachukwu (Rivers Angels); Nofisat Tijani (Youthful Talent 99).

By Victor Oguntade

Coach Bankole Olowookere believes the U-17 National  Women’s Team, Flamingos, can emulate their illustrious seniors in the Super Falcons by going all the way  to clinch the  forthcoming  FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in  Morocco, describing the north African country ‘as a land of blessings for Nigeria’.

Penultimate  Saturday , the  Super Falcons clinched a historic  10^th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations(WAFCON) , after a dramatic  comeback 3-2  victory over the host, the Atlas Lionesses. The 9^th  edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be played between 17 October and 8 November .

Ahead of th e cadet women’s World Cup  in October, an optimistic Olowookere  said  if the Super Falcons could  do it in Morocco, his wards also can  equally follow suit by winning  a historic  first  title.

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“After our seniors (Super Falcons)  achieved that might, I’ve called Morocco’ the land of blessings for Nigeria in year 2025’ and  I’m a bit spiritual about my football, if anybody has done something good in this world you’ve to follow that step,”  Olowookere who led the Flamingos to a bronze medal finish in 2022, said. “I’ve seen something that they’ve done and I’ve been able to put it into my own program too as well so I can get something better.

“So, the land of Morocco,  this year is for Nigeria. I’m seeing it by the grace of God, as God live this year is Nigeria time, it’s our period. We’re going there to achieve.

“Even are the men too as well. It’s a land of destiny that God has given us. I’ve stepped into that place and work is going on, it’s not something that we can just go and pick.

“We’re going to work towards it, the players are working hard, the technical are working hard to achieve it for Nigeria,” Olowookere  added in an interview aired on Brila FM.

This will be the first time the competition is contested by 24 teams: four from AFC (Asia) , five from CAF (Africa); (including Morocco), four from CONCACAF (North America), four from CONMEBOL (South America), five from UEFA (Europe), and two from OFC(Oceania).

Morocco will be the first country on the African continent and just the second Arab country to host the tournament.

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has praised the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation for the opportunity presented to the National U17 Girls’ team, Team IJA, to feature at the 22^nd  National Sports Festival ongoing in Ogun State.

Olowookere’s charges, already qualified for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, lost in the final of the female football event to Team Delta, after a penalty shootout that went into sudden death at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex on Tuesday evening.

 “First and foremost, kudos to the NSC that invited us to participate, and also the NFF. The festival provided an opportunity for us to test some of the new players that we have scouted through local tournaments and the league as well. We were able to integrate some of them into the squad.

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 “Our third goalkeeper was in goal throughout and didn’t concede a single goal in regulation time throughout the festival. I commend the defenders as well.”

He attributed the defeat in the penalty shootout to inexperience on the part of the goalkeeper, who parried the ball into the net instead of parrying it away.

 “We have also seen that we have to train more in the area of penalty kicks, going to the World Cup.

 “Sincerely, the Team IJA concept is commendable. We were also able to scout new players from some other States that featured in the female football event.” 

Flamingos head coach, Bankole Olowookere, has stressed that his wards must improve despite their 3-1 win in Pretoria over  their South African counterparts  in the first leg of their  penultimate round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers

While praising his players, Olowookere emphasized the importance of refining certain aspects of their game and ensuring that they do not get carried away by the outcome of the first leg performance.

 “We got a good result, but there are still areas we need to improve before the next match. I know South Africa will also make adjustments,” he told journalists.

Nigeria’s Flamingos will face Bantwana of South Africa in second round, second leg duel this weekend in Ikenne with a date with either Botswana or Algeria on the horizon in the final qualifying round.

Botswana edged Algeria 2-1 at home and they have a mountain to climb to retain the first leg advantage in Algiers in order to qualify.

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But South Africa U17 Women’s coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo has disclosed that her players must be ready to fight and battle the  Flamingos headlong in Ikenne.

Khumalo attributed the first leg loss to her team’s inability to defend under pressure, promising to address the issue before the return leg.

“Once our opponents put pressure on us, we struggled to protect our goal,” she admitted. “That’s the key challenge we need to fix before the second leg. The girls showed resilience, and we now know what to improve on.”

The decisive second leg is scheduled for this weekend at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

By Aisha Abdullahi

National U-17 Women’s coach, Bankole Olowookere, has spoken about his wards 2-0 quarter -final loss to their American counterparts at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.

Nigeria lost  to  a goal in each half by Kennedy Fuller  who gave the Americans the lead via penalty  in the 43^rd minute  while Kimmi Ascanio added  the second  goal  in the 74^th minute. 

According to  the statistics, the Americans practically dominated Nigeria  to secure the victory  that takes them to th semi-finals.

Speaking about Flamingos’ loss, Olowookere  gave credit to the Americans , adding  they  were better and deserved their victory.

 “We map out our strategy before going for the game but the US  were more tactic and defused  our strategy into the game,” he said on Brila Fm..

Olowookere  who has been in charge of the Flamingos since 2020, admitted that their opponents in the Saturday’s quarter finals  ( United States ) were more superior in the match.

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“ Of course, they were better  but the  early injuries to two of our players  affected us but that is football, you can’t win all the time,” he further said.

Looking at the future, coach Olowookere  said it will be nice if the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF)  can keep these players together  and progress  some of them  to the stage.

Similarly, Taiwo Afolabi  said  the Falconets were not over-confident  going  into the match  but they were just  unlucky , adding injuries to two of the players affected their game plans.

“ The United States had their own plan and we  had our own plans too but their own plans  over-powered us,” she said.

The quarter finals loss notwithstanding, Afolabi had called on Nigerians to support them in prayers in future engagements.

Flamingos head coach, Bankole Olowookere has invited 25 players to camp ahead of the FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Burkina Faso.

The players invited are expected to report to the Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuye, Abuja as from today along with their training kits, medical certificate of fitness, international passport and Government Certificate of Birth (issued by National Population Commission in their respective states).

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The first leg of the tie is billed for Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on May 11th and Olowookere has listed some pf the players that represented Nigeria at the last Under 17 World Cup in India that won a bronze medal.

Some of the players invited are Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens), Mary Aderemi (Bayelsa Queens), Etim Edidiong (Bayelsa Queens), Edward Favour (Naija Ratels), Prisca Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers FC, Onyedikachi Ekezie (Heartland Queens), Shakirat Abidemi Moshood (Bayelsa Queens), Queen Joseph (Fosla Academy).

Others are: Yetunde Ayantosho (Heartland Queens), Harmony Chidiebere (Imo Strikers FC), Ramota Kareem (Honey Badgers), Aisha Animashaun (Naija Ratels), Peace Effiong (Rivers Angels) and among others.