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Nigeria U17’s Bankole Olowookere hails NFF over graduation of U17 to U-20 team
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Head coach of Nigeria U-17 girls, Bankole Olowookere has praised the management of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for allowing a smooth transition.
Some players of the Flamingos team that won the bronze medal at the last FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India have transitioned from U-17 to U-20 and Olowookere says it’s the right thing to do and a step in the right direction.
“It’s a family affair and we have a father at the Federation that put us together giving us the mandate to develop football in Nigeria and that is what we are doing,” Olowookere told Brila FM.
“Migrating from U-17 to U-20 is a massive achievement for the Federation because if you have a child that promoted from Nursery to Primary to Secondary up till University level, that means you have invested well. That’s the only way I can just explain the situation.
“Having players graduate from U-17 to U-20 means the developmental program is effective and working. Kudos not to me but to the Federation for deeming it fit to put us together as coaches and asked us to groom these girls and we are able to see talents. The future of women’s football in Nigeria is bright.”
Head Coach Chris Danjuma has called to camp 30 players as Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets begin preparations on Monday for next month’s WAFU B U20 Women’s Championship taking place in Ghana.
Danjuma has included some players from his FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup quarter-finalists in Costa Rica as well as some from the bronze medal-winning Flamingos from the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India, alongside a couple of new faces.
Omilana Faith, Ezekiel Motunrayo, Blessing Sunday, Miracle Usani, Taiwo Afolabi, Comfort Folorunsho, Blessing Emmanuel, and Opeyemi Ajakaye are the players that won the bronze medal at India 2022 invited for the WAFU-B Women’s Cup.
