National Teams
U17 Women’s World Cup: Bankole Olowookere confident on Flamingos chances
By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria U-17 Women’s National Team head coach, Bankole Olowookere, is confident about his side’s chances as they prepare for the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
The Flamingos will face host nation Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and familiar opponents New Zealand in the group stage. Despite the tough competition, Olowookere is hopeful that his team can replicate their past success and make an impact on the world stage once again.
Reflecting on his journey, Olowookere expressed pride in his previous achievement at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India, where he guided Nigeria to a historic third-place finish.
That achievement not only brought glory to the team but also established him as one of the most respected names in women’s football in Nigeria and beyond.
“I am proud of that moment,” Olowookere said, speaking to FIFA. “That singular achievement made me one of the best coaches in Nigeria and secured my job for a third tournament. I can move anywhere in the world now, and I’m a well-known name.”
He recalled the dramatic third-place match against Germany, where Nigeria squandered a 3-0 lead before eventually winning in a thrilling penalty shootout.
“We were winning 3-0, but then we had a bit of inner-stress and lost focus. Our mentality wasn’t that great at the time, but we were able to come back. To face a superpower nation like Germany and come out on top is a sweet, sweet memory for me. That was a top moment,” Olowookere reflected.
This upcoming tournament will be Olowookere’s second appearance at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and he plans to lean on his well-established philosophy and attacking style of play to lead the team to success.
“Every coach is allowed to have their own philosophy and style of play,” he said. “I want to be an attacking coach. Football is full of excitement and entertainment, and what is entertaining? Goalscoring!”
Olowookere’s success in India, where he led Nigeria to a third-place finish, remains a significant milestone in his coaching career.
As the Flamingos aim to build on that success in the Dominican Republic, all eyes will be on their dynamic coach to deliver once again on the global stage.
