Head coach of the Nigeria U-17 Women’s National Team, Bankole Olowokere, has praised the developmental impact of the Gateway Games despite his team, the Flamingos, narrowly missing out on gold at the women’s football event.
The Flamingos fell 7-6 to Delta State in a dramatic penalty shootout after a goalless draw in regulation time during the final held at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta.
Speaking with Sports247 after the match, Coach Olowokere expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and emphasized the long-term benefits of participating in the tournament, particularly under the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative.
“This is a developmental program, and it’s a big plus for our team,” Olowokere said. “The girls have done very well. I give them kudos—I can never be angry with them. They are like my children; this is a family affair.”
Despite the short preparation window—only a week before the tournament—the coach noted that the team exceeded expectations by reaching the final.
“Nobody gave us a chance to get to the final. We came here with a very young side, not the full Flamingos squad. Out of our main team, only four players were included. The rest are young players we are trying to develop,” he explained.
Olowokere highlighted the IJA initiative as a valuable scouting platform, pointing out that several emerging players caught the eye during the competition.
“This initiative has helped us discover about eight promising girls, and if we can get three or four of them into our World Cup squad, it will be a huge plus,” he added.
He commended the organisers for sustaining the IJA initiative, urging for its continued support.
“The IJA initiative is the way to go. It has provided a good template for further scouting, and I thank God for it,” he concluded.
The Flamingos are currently preparing for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and the Gateway Games has offered a timely opportunity to assess new talents for possible inclusion in the final squad.
