In an intense encounter in Bamako, the Nigeria U17 women’s team, the Flamingos faced off against Burkina Faso in the first leg of their matchup.
The game concluded with a 1-1 draw, showcasing a spirited performance from both sides.
The match saw Chidi Harmony of Nigeria opening the scoring with a goal in the 55th minute, putting the Flamingos ahead.
However, Burkina Faso responded strongly, with Rainata Oubda finding the net in the 85th minute to level the score at 1-1.
Coach Bankole Olowookere shared his thoughts on the match.
Despite the draw, Olowookere remained optimistic about the team’s performance and their prospects in the upcoming second-leg match in Abuja on May 18.
In his assessment of the match, Olowookere emphasized the developmental aspect of coaching young players.
He highlighted the importance of creating opportunities and learning from missed chances, emphasizing the growth mindset instilled in the players.
While acknowledging that scoring only one goal was unusual for his team, Olowookere saw it as part of the developmental process.
He stressed the significance of facing tough opposition in African competitions to build a strong team capable of representing the continent effectively at international tournaments like the World Cup.
“For me, I see the developmental program working in Africa, that’s my own. You cannot be a champion all the time. You must have opposition.
If you don’t have this opposition, when you get to the World Cup, you won’t build a good team.
But if you fight hard to get to the World Cup, you present a good team for Africa. This is all about Africa.”
As an African coach, Olowookere expressed his desire to see Nigeria’s U17 team excel and represent Africa competently on the global stage.
He emphasized the importance of facing strong competition to strengthen the team and prepare them for future challenges.
His comments reflected both his commitment to developing young talent and his ambition to achieve success for the team.
With their enterprising performance in the first leg, the Nigeria U17 women’s team aims to build on their efforts and secure a victory in the upcoming match to advance to the next stage of the competition.
