Latest News
NWFL Championship talents excites Nigeria U17 coach Bankole OIowookere
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Head coach of Nigeria national U-17 women’s side, Bankole Olowookere says he is wowed by the abundance of talents in the country’s Nigeria Women’s Football League Championship.
Olowookere who guided the team to a third place finish at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India last October, was present at the 2023 NWFL Championship in Ikenne, where Lakeside Queens and Dannaz Ladies picking the two promotion slots to the top flight NWFL Premiership.
Speaking after the 12-team tournament, he expressed joy with the country’s raw talents.
“From my assessment, it has been a very nice and organized tournament,” Olowookere told the media.
“Kudos to the organizers of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship. It shows that we have a lot of talent in Nigeria. Next season, I am sure that we will have a lot of things to enjoy from the league with lots of competitions because if you look at the teams that qualified for the Premiership, they gave a good account of themselves.
“From the beginning you can know that some teams are poised for promotion. It’s a welcome development for us in Nigeria as far as women’s football is concerned. This is a sign of a good times to come for our football.”
Despite missing out on the final of the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the Flamingos eventually took home bronze with a 3-2 win over Germany following a 3-3 draw at regulation time.
The third place triumph saw the West Africans celebrate their first ever podium finish in the history of the competition, having featured six times in seven editions since inception in 2008.
“Honestly, if I had not been around her for the Championship, they would have stoned me because it won’t be nice for someone else to tell me the second story of what I have seen,” he continued.
“Thank God that I am here live. I came in and saw wonderful talents here. As we are progressing, I think these talents abound. I have been able to pick some young talents with the ones that we need to work on.
“We will add more value to them with other members of my technical crew for the national assignment. From what I have done at the World Cup, most Nigerians expect more from me.
“I should not go down below the level of what we achieved last year. That’s why I have to come around to make sure that I select some players and begin to work on them. I need to start the work now.”
