Nigeria U-17 women’s coach Bankole Olowookere has apologised to fans after the Flamingos were eliminated from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup following a 4–0 defeat to Italy in the round of 16 on Tuesday.
Speaking after the loss in Morocco, Olowookere said the result was disappointing but insisted that his young side would take valuable lessons from the experience.
‘I just have to tender my apology to our fans all over the world’, he said.
‘We are sorry that our journey in this tournament has come to an end. However, there are lessons for us to learn and benefits to take away as well. The exposure and experience the girls have gained here are very important’.
The defeat brought Nigeria’s campaign to a premature end despite showing promise in the group stage. Italy took the lead just before halftime through Anna Copelli and went on to score three more in the second period, with Caterina Venturelli, Giulia Robino, and Rachelle Giudici all finding the net.
While acknowledging the pain of the defeat, Olowookere emphasised that the setback should be seen as a stepping stone for the players’ future careers.
‘The World Cup is over, but their future lies ahead. The end of this tournament does not mean the end of their football careers. They must see this as a learning experience’, he noted.
He also expressed confidence that many of the players would go on to represent Nigeria at higher levels.
‘Some of them are still very young and just beginning to understand what it means to play at this level. This kind of exposure will go a long way in shaping their careers and making them future superstars’, he said.
He also praised his players’ determination, describing the experience as a vital part of their development.
‘I give credit to them. I cannot blame them. They tried their best. They are young girls who are still developing themselves, and I believe there are good lessons to learn from this tournament. It’s not a total loss. That’s why they came, to gain experience and improve’, he said.
Olowookere added that his focus would now shift to maintaining the momentum in the girls’ development and preparing for future competitions.
‘This may be the end of the road for Nigeria in this World Cup, but the journey starts now. We have to keep the girls busy, keep improving them, and continue to produce more players because, compared to the boys, they are catching up fast’.
The coach expressed optimism that the exposure from the World Cup would help the players grow and contribute to the development of women’s football in Nigeria.
‘In the next five years, you will see more talented players emerging, competing strongly with the boys’, he said. ‘I am happy that FIFA has taken this initiative. It is a great opportunity for the girl child, and they will take advantage of it to develop further’.
Nigeria’s defeat means the 2022 bronze medallists will now turn their attention to preparations for the qualifying series for next year’s U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be held annually.
