Flamingos Will Treat Samoa with Full Respect, Says Coach Olowookere

Flamingos head coach Bankole Olowookere has assured fans that Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team will not underestimate any opponent at the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco especially debutants Samoa. Nigeria is grouped with Canada, France, and Samoa in Group C for the tournament, which begins in October.

Reacting to the official group stage draw, Olowookere stated that his team will approach every match with equal seriousness. “I don’t underrate any team,” he said. “Having qualified from their continent to be at the World Cup means they are not a pushover. The more you give that level of respect to other teams, the more you need to work harder.”

The coach emphasised the need for rigorous preparation, acknowledging that all participating nations will be analysing one another. “They will most likely want to seek access to information about us, just as we are doing about them,” he noted.

Nigeria’s group matches are scheduled as follows Canada on October 19, France on October 22, and Samoa on October 25. Olowookere affirmed that his technical team is already working on gathering footage of their opponents to shape tactical strategies and training.

“We should get enough details that we will transfer to our players and begin to work on our strategy,” he concluded.

Editorial

Coach Bankole Olowookere’s stance on respecting every opponent—no matter their perceived pedigree could be the very mindset that propels the Flamingos far at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. For a competition where surprise upsets are becoming more common, humility combined with hard work might be Nigeria’s most valuable tactical asset.

Too often, African teams walk into games against lesser-known nations expecting easy victories, only to be undone by preparation gaps or complacency. Samoa may be new to the global stage, but the fact that they’re at the World Cup signals intent, not accident. The Flamingos must therefore prepare for them with the same focus as they would against powerhouses like France.

Olowookere’s recognition that scouting, video analysis, and data collection are central to modern football preparation is refreshing and long overdue in many Nigerian setups. These steps show that he’s not just training a team he’s building a system.

Beyond tactical preparation, this draw is an opportunity to make a statement. With Canada and France presenting formidable tests, the match against Samoa could determine Nigeria’s path forward. But that path begins with the right attitude and Olowookere seems to have set that tone early.

Let’s hope the Flamingos not only walk into Morocco with talent but with the humility, intelligence, and preparation needed to turn promise into performance.

Did You Know?

1. Samoa’s U-17 women’s team is making its debut at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2024.
2. Nigeria’s Flamingos finished third at the last edition of the U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2022, their best-ever result.
3. The Flamingos have qualified for every edition of the tournament since its inception in 2008.
4. Head coach Bankole Olowookere has been in charge of the team since 2020 and led them to bronze in India in 2022.
5. France reached the final of the 2012 U-17 Women’s World Cup, where they lost to North Korea in a penalty shootout.