U-17 Women’s W’Cup: Olowookere promises Nigerians elusive trophy

Flamingos head coach, Bankole Olowookere, has promised to return home with the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy from the 2024 edition of the cadet championship, which kicks off on Wednesday in the Dominican Republic, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Speaking confidently during an interview on the official X handle of the Nigeria Football Federation on Monday, Olowookere thanked Nigerians for their support during the qualifiers, urging them to keep supporting the team’s quest to lift the elusive trophy.

He said, Before you ask for something, you have to first of all be thankful for what you have been given. Right from the time I assumed duty at the national U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos of Nigeria, Nigerians have been so supportive of me and have been encouraging me. They are the power that enables me to do well in this category.

“I want to appreciate them right from our qualifying matches to our World Cup last year; they have been there. In two of the qualifying matches, I was so surprised by the large number of Nigerians in the stands; the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja was almost filled to capacity. I was so surprised, and that has motivated the team to do better.
“On behalf of the team and the backroom staff, I am assuring Nigerians that we will make them happy; they will be proud of us till the end because we are going to be here till the end.

“Our slogan is that we refuse to go back home empty-handed. We must get something back home, whatever it costs. Just believe in us; we are going to make you happy, and we are going to bring something back home.

“We are planning and working hard to get the gold for Nigeria. I am so excited today and confident in the Lord. We have worked hard, and we believe in God, and we are going to come home with the trophy by the grace of God.”
Nigeria arrived at the World Cup venue on Sunday following a 10-day intensive training camp at Estadio Cibao and Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santiago, Dominican Republic, where they were forced to a 1-1 draw by the Mexicans in their only test game at the facility.
Olowookere explained the importance of the game, which he said gave them an inkling of what to expect in the competition, noting that it helped the girls overcome the inferiority complex and a bit of the fear factor.

He said, “The match against Mexico was an eye opener, and it put us in touch with what we are expecting at the World Cup proper,” said Olowookere, who led the team to the last edition in India.

He continued, “They are similar to our African kind of football, a bit robust. The match got us half-ready for the World Cup. The inferiority complex has been taken away; a bit of fear has been taken away. What we are waiting for is how it will happen at the World Cup.

“I have told them a story based on my last experience at the World Cup. The only thing we are waiting for is for the World Cup to start.”

Nigeria, who have participated in every edition of the competition since the inaugural edition in 2008, are lodged in Group A of the competition running from October 16 to November 3 alongside host nation Dominican Republic, New Zealand, and Ecuador.

The Flamingos are expected to open their campaign against New Zealand on Wednesday, October 16 at Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros, take on Ecuador for their second at the same venue three days later, and round off preliminary assignments against the Dominican Republic on October 22 at Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo.
Nigeria reached the quarterfinals in the 2010, 2012, and 2014 editions, a jinx they broke at the 2022 edition by defeating USA in the quarterfinals via penalties after an entertaining and tightly-closed contest during regulation time that ended 1-1.