Former Flamingos head coach Bankole Olowookere has urged Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team to focus on their development rather than the pressure of winning every match, as they prepare for a crucial FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup encounter against defending champions North Korea.
Nigeria revived their qualification hopes with a 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico on Tuesday, following an opening 2-1 defeat to Poland at the tournament in Morocco.
Olowookere welcomed the victory but warned against placing excessive expectations on the young players.
“It is the development of the game that really matters. If you are imposing winning on them all the time, then the right thing will not be done,” he said.
The former coach, who guided Nigeria to a bronze medal at the 2022 tournament, believes the players must now put their recent victory behind them and concentrate on the challenge ahead.
“They just have to put the achievement of the last match behind them and see that this is a global stage. This is World Cup,” he stated.
Nigeria face North Korea on Friday, October 23, with the defending champions leading Group B on six points after defeating Puerto Rico 6-0 and Poland 6-1.
The Flamingos and Poland have three points each, while Puerto Rico remain without a point.
Olowookere stressed that the technical crew must prepare the players psychologically to avoid allowing the Puerto Rico result to affect their concentration.
“The team needs to be well psyched now,” he said, warning that allowing the previous result to overwhelm the players could undermine their next performance.
He expressed hope that Nigeria would secure another positive result and remain in the competition.
“The next match is very important now, so that the team will be able to still remain in the tournament,” he added.
With the top two teams in each group and four best third-placed sides advancing to the Round of 16, Nigeria still have a route to qualification.
Olowookere believes encouragement, proper preparation and continued player development will be essential as the Flamingos confront their toughest group-stage opponents.
