Bankole Olowookere, head coach of Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, expressed deep disappointment following the Flamingos’ elimination from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The Nigerian squad exited the tournament after a 4-0 defeat to Italy in Tuesday’s Round of 16 clash in Rabat. Despite early promise, the Flamingos failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. A potential Nigerian goal was disallowed by VAR for offside before Italy scored just before halftime.
Olowookere’s Post-Match Reaction
“Honestly, it’s quite painful,” Olowookere told FIFA.com. “We entered determined to achieve something special and progress. Sadly, we held them for 44 minutes before conceding. Everything unraveled in the second half.”
The loss ends Nigeria’s hopes of building on their semi-final finish in the previous edition. Italy advanced to the quarter-finals alongside Brazil, the Netherlands, and North Korea.
Other Round of 16 Results
Brazil defeated China 3-0, while North Korea overwhelmed hosts Morocco 6-1. The Netherlands advanced past the United States via penalties after a 1-1 draw. Additional knockout fixtures were scheduled for later that day.
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