Flamingos head coach Bankole Olowookere has emphasized the significant advantages of his team's participation in the ongoing 2024 National Sports Festival, describing it as a valuable opportunity to strengthen his squad ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

The Flamingos, who are competing as part of the Independent Junior Athletes (IJA) team, have already secured a place in the semi-finals of the women's football event at the Gateway Games currently taking place in Ogun State. They are set to face the host team, Ogun State, in the last four at Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, on Sunday.

"It's a big plus in terms of developing the players. If we don't have the sports festival, some of these players will not have this opportunity to play for the team. It wouldn't have been possible too to discover the exceptional talents we have here at this moment," Olowookere stated.

The coach revealed that the tournament has already yielded positive results in terms of talent identification. "We invited eight new players to beef up the team, one or two of them have done well so far. Grace from Fortress Ladies and the other girl from FC Robo, Maryam. They have been exceptional. With more rigorous training, they will be able to gel more into the team."

The Flamingos earned their qualification for the U-17 World Cup after defeating South Africa and Algeria in the qualifying rounds. Their participation in the National Sports Festival serves as crucial preparation as they continue to build toward the global tournament.

The Gateway Games 2025, hosted by Ogun State, continues to provide a platform for young athletes across various sports to showcase their talents while offering national team coaches the opportunity to scout for promising prospects.