U17 WWC qualifiers: NFF reappoints Bankola Olowookere, others as Nigeria coaches 

By Wale Mustapha

The Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) has ratified and confirmed the re-appointment of the technical crew for the country’s U17 girls national team headed by coach Bankole Olowookere.

This was against the backdrop of recommendation of the Technical Committee of the Federation that was later ratified by the Executive Committee following the team’s success on the global stage in India in 2022.

The technical crew also include Adanna Nwaneri as Assistant Coach; Morufu Adeyemo, Assistant Coach and Abubakar Ndanusa as Goalkeepers’ Coach.

Olowookere and his team of coaches guided the Flamingoes to their first-ever podium finish at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, in India in 2022.

After coming through their group stage attrition, the Flamingos had beaten the United States of America after a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals, but lost to Colombia in the semi-finals. In the third-place, the Flamingos were held to a 3-3 draw by Germany, but prevailed after a penalty shootout to win the bronze medals.

The Flamingos will begin the race to qualify for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup with an away game against their counterparts from the Central African Republic, with the first leg scheduled for Bangui on the weekend of 2nd – 4th February, while the return leg holds at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 10th February.

With world football-governing body FIFA having increased the number of participating teams at the final tournament to 24 teams from the 16 that took part in India in 2022, Africa now has four slots at the finals.

This year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will be staged in the Dominican Republic, 16th October – 3rd November.