Nigeria's Flamingos head coach, Bankole Olowookere, has expressed confidence that his team will deliver a commendable performance at the upcoming 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Chile, despite being drawn in a challenging group.
The Nigerian squad has been placed in a formidable Group D alongside France, Canada, and Samoa for the tournament, but Olowookere remains undaunted by the quality of opposition they will face.
"This is a tournament, a competition," Olowookere stated in an interview. "We need to compete with others, whether they are weak or strong. That's the only path to becoming a champion, an eventual winner. Nobody hands you a trophy without a fight."
The Flamingos have shown promising performances in recent editions of the tournament. They secured a bronze medal at the 2022 edition hosted by India, marking Nigeria's first-ever podium finish at the competition. In their most recent appearance, the team reached the quarter-final stage in the Dominican Republic before being eliminated.
Nigeria's qualification for the 2025 tournament continues their impressive record of appearances at the global youth competition, further cementing their status as one of Africa's strongest teams in women's youth football.
The coach's optimistic outlook comes after the team's recent successes in qualifying matches, including victories against Algeria that earned them a spot in the finals. Reports indicate that the team was also rewarded with N6 million following their win over Algeria during the qualification campaign.
Football analysts suggest that the Flamingos' participation in the National Sports Festival has also contributed to their development, providing valuable competitive experience ahead of the World Cup.
The 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup will serve as another opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its talent on the global stage and potentially improve on their previous bronze medal finish.
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