Nigeria: Flamingos boss Olowookere proud of Northern breakthrough after record defeat at 2025 World Cup

Nigeria’s U17 women’s national team coach, Bankole Olowookere, has praised himself for building a truly representative Flamingos squad that includes players from all six geo-political zones of the country, Soccernet.ng reports.

Although Nigeria’s performance at the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup ended in disappointment, with the team exiting at the round of 16, Olowookere insists there is reason to celebrate.

Olowookere is particularly pleased that the tournament marks the first time players from Northern Nigeria were well-represented in the squad, a breakthrough he sees as both social and sporting progress.

“This is the first time ever, to be sincere with myself, that I balanced up all the six geo-political zones in my selection. I eventually did that for this tournament,” Olowookere said as per Sports247.

“I’ve always been trying to look for Northerners that play female football, and I am happy that I achieved it in this squad.”

Olowookere, who has led the team since 2020, said his intent to give every part of Nigeria a voice in the Flamingos setup was driven by fairness and national pride. Cultural and religious barriers often discourage girls from Northern Nigeria from taking up football, but the veteran coach was delighted to a way through.

“We have about four players who are from the North,” he revealed.

“From the eastern side, we have the likes of Chisom, Sylvia, Okpara, and maybe six or seven of them in total. However, I can’t cover the whole country all alone. It’s a youth team, and we have to hunt for talents. So, I thank some people in the media who helped me spot talents.”

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Nigeria's Flamingos: From celebrated bronze to tough lessons

Olowookere’s journey with the Flamingos began five years ago. Appointed in 2020, he guided Nigeria through a COVID-hit U17 AFCON campaign before returning to complete the mission two years later, winning the country’s first-ever U17 Women’s World Cup bronze medal in 2022.

“I am proud of that moment,” he told FIFA at the time. “That singular achievement made me one of the best coaches in Nigeria and secured my job for a third [tournament]. I can move anywhere in the world now and I’m a well-known name.”

But 2025 was less kind. Nigeria opened with a 4-1 defeat to Canada, lost narrowly to France 1-0, and needed to beat debutants Samoa to stay in contention.

Although they scraped through to the knockout stage, a heavy 4-0 loss to Italy in the round of 16 sealed their exit, the worst record in Flamingos’ history at the World Cup.

The tournament, being hosted by Morocco, has reached the semifinal stage where Brazil will face North Korea while Netherlands battle Mexico for a place in the final.