Former Flamingos head coach Bankole Olowookere has declared that Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team possesses the quality and determination to go far at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, warning that losing focus could become their biggest enemy as they prepare for a crucial quarter-final showdown against Venezuela, Sports247.ng reports.
Olowookere, who guided Nigeria to a historic third-place finish at the 2022 edition in India, expressed satisfaction with the team’s remarkable improvement following their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mexico in the Round of 16.
Speaking about the performance, the experienced tactician praised the players for demonstrating a better understanding of the demands of international competition.
“The game they played really shows that they know why they are at the World Cup, which is very good for them, good for the nation, Nigeria as a whole,” Olowookere stated.
The former coach insisted that Nigeria’s biggest challenge is no longer necessarily the quality of their opponents but their ability to maintain concentration throughout the competition.
“The only thing that can hinder them now is for them to lose focus. The only thing,” he warned.
“They don’t have any other opposition than themselves. Nobody can just stop them anyhow for now, except they stop themselves.”
Olowookere stressed that the Flamingos must avoid complacency and continue approaching every encounter with the same determination that has inspired their recent victories.
According to him, maintaining discipline and doing the right things consistently could make the difference as the competition enters its decisive stages.
“What they need at this time most is for them to remain focused and to remain determined,” he explained.
Nigeria have recorded three consecutive victories after recovering from their opening defeat to Poland, with impressive performances against Puerto Rico, defending champions North Korea and Mexico.
With Venezuela standing between the Flamingos and a semi-final ticket, Olowookere believes the players must remain committed to their World Cup ambitions.
“They should keep doing the right thing,” he urged.
His message is clear: the Flamingos have demonstrated their potential, but maintaining focus and determination will be crucial to keeping Nigeria’s dream of a maiden World Cup title alive.
