Bankole Olowookere has stepped down from his role as Technical Adviser of Osun Babes F.C., bringing an end to his short spell with the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership side.
Olowookere, who was appointed in November 2025, confirmed that his decision to resign was largely due to the club’s failure to meet key financial obligations to players and coaching staff.
According to the coach, management repeatedly promised to settle outstanding salaries and bonuses, but those commitments were not fulfilled despite several appeals and discussions.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Olowookere said he remains grateful for the opportunity to work with the team and wished the club well as they continue their campaign to retain their status among Nigeria’s elite women’s football clubs.
Before his stint with Osun Babes, Olowookere made a strong name for himself in Nigerian women’s football during his time with Naija Ratels F.C..
Under his leadership, Naija Ratels enjoyed a remarkable debut season in the top flight, securing qualification for the NWFL Premiership Super Six playoff tournament. His side also reached the final of the NFF Federation Cup in 2024, where they narrowly lost 1–0 to Rivers Angels F.C. in the decisive match played at Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
Olowookere’s resignation once again highlights the financial challenges faced by some clubs in the NWFL, even as the league continues to grow in profile and competitiveness.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
