Bankole Olowookere: Flamingos coach wary about South Africa’s threat ahead of return leg

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The head coach of Nigeria U-17 women’s national team, Bankole Olowookere has sounded a warning notice to his players ahead of the return leg of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.

On Saturday, Flamingos defeated their hosts, South Africa’s Bantwana 3-1 to put a firm leg in the final round of the qualification series for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.

Four-goal scorer at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic last year, Shakirat Moshood finished with aplomb in the 20th minute to put the 2022 FIFA World Cup bronze medallists ahead at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe in Pretoria, before Harmony Chidi, who scored 13 goals in the qualifying series for last year’s finals, made no mistake from six yards as Nigeria was awarded a penalty.

Bantwana kept the Flamingos in their sights when they also converted a penalty two minutes after the break, courtesy Katleho Malebana, but the prolific Harmony Chidi took Nigeria out of South Africa’s sights with a third goal in the 68th minute.

“We played against the home team with home support. It happens in football. They are motivated and want to come out,” Olowookere said after the match.

“They want to show the people that they play good football alongside the Federation. I expected that.

“Any home team will play like that especially when they are leading them so they don’t have anything to do and seat back. They have to fight back.

“As a coach and technical person, I know that it is going to happen like that. The good thing is that we have gotten the result and leading. We are comfortable.”

Olowookere who has been in charge of the team at the last two FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is still wary of their opponents while trying to be modest ahead of the return leg.

“We just need to be careful not to concede another goal. We just need to contain the pressure. Make some counter. If we can get another goal, fine. If we cannot get but make sure you keep the ball.” He concluded.

Both teams will clash again, in the return leg, at the Remo Stars’ Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday next week, with the winner advancing to the final round of the series, where all four winners will qualify to join hosts Morocco as Africa’s flag-bearers at this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, 17th October – 5th November.