Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team, Flamingoes, coach, Bankole Olowookere, has asserted that they are no minors in football as they prepare for the FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
He made this claim while speaking with Kapital Fm on his thoughts on the just concluded draws in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The draw placed the Flamingoes in Group A alongside host nation Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and their 2022 group mates New Zealand.
Also Read: Coach Bankole – Flamingos Fully Focused On Burkina Faso
Coach Bankole said it would be suicidal to disrespect any team at the tournament as they are not minors.
“It’s been a very wonderful opportunity for Nigeria National Under-17 Female Team, the Flamingos. Looking at the draws for the World Cup, in our group it’s going to be a bit tough. I always have this at the back of my mind. They didn’t just get to the World Cup on the platter of gold, they fought for it, they played matches and they won countries before they qualified. So there’s no small country amongst them. We have to give them respect in terms of planning. Once you don’t give respect, complacency will set in and you may pay dearly for it. So we see them as contenders.”
The handler of Naija Ratels Football Club of Abuja admitted that he would take one game at a time to ensure qualification from the group stage but was quick to add that with a high level of discipline, dedication, and determination, they hope to surpass their previous third place record in the 2022 edition.
“We will take it one game at a time. First and foremost, our first game is very important to take it seriously and to make sure we win. Most importantly, our group match is very important, very key to us. So that we are able to win and top our table.
So we need to be very careful in doing that. And then playing in the quarter-final, hopefully we win the quarter-final and go into the semifinal so we equal the level that we attained in India. That is the number one target that we have. And also to break more records. So we just take it one game after the other.”
The Flamingoes will face their counterparts from New Zealand in their opening game of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
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