U17WWCQ: “Talk is cheap” — Nigeria’s Bankole dismisses Algeria’s remontada plan

By Monsurah Olatunji

Head coach of Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, Bankole Olowookere, has played down Algeria’s hopes of staging a comeback in the second leg of their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier, boldly stating that the Flamingos are just “90 minutes away” from Morocco.

Nigeria took a commanding 4–0 lead in the first leg played on Saturday at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, putting one foot in the tournament slated for later this year.

Despite the deficit, Algeria’s coach, Abednour Mira, believes his team can pull off a remontada — referencing their previous comeback against Botswana, where they overturned a 2–1 first-leg defeat with a 4–0 win at home.

But Olowookere remains unfazed.

“Talk is cheap,” he said in response to Mira’s bold prediction during the post-match press conference. “I will not talk down on my opponent or play mind games. It’s okay for them to have such a mentality. That’s their game plan, and we have our own way of doing things too.”

While acknowledging Algeria’s fighting spirit, Olowookere emphasized that his team is mentally and tactically prepared to complete the job away from home.

“We are just 90 minutes away from going to the World Cup, so I will not be stupid enough to go to Algeria and let down millions of Nigerians,” he asserted.

He also alluded to past challenges faced in away fixtures, recalling the 2022 qualifier in Egypt where distracting laser lights were aimed at his goalkeeper.

“When we went to Egypt, they were using a laser light on our goalkeeper’s eyes, but we won. We complained to the match official and they had to stop. So no matter the antics Algeria wants to use to ensure a remontada, we will be able to contain them.”

The Flamingos will travel to Algeria for the return leg on Friday, April 25, aiming to seal qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.