U17 Women’s World Cup: Nigeria’s Poor Outing, Olowookere’s Apology, CAF Snub, and Key Lessons from the Campaign
Nigeria’s Flamingos arrived in Morocco for the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup with soaring optimism, a seasoned coach, and a perfect run of pre-tournament form.
Yet, by the end of their campaign, the story had soured into one of disappointment and regret.
Head coach Bankole Olowookere, in his third World Cup in charge, had reason to dream big. He led Nigeria to a historic bronze medal in India in 2022 and reached the quarterfinals in the Dominican Republic in 2024.
The veteran tactician even promised that this new generation would replicate the success of the Super Falcons in Morocco, the same country where Nigeria’s senior women’s team lifted a record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title earlier in July.
In preparation, the Flamingos looked unstoppable. They won all their home friendlies without conceding, breezed through two more in Morocco against New Zealand and Paraguay, and headed confidently into their Group F opener.
What followed, however, was a collapse no one saw coming.
Nigeria: Olowookere takes the blame for heavy defeats
The first warning sign came in a 4-1 loss to Canada on matchday one. A second defeat, 1-0 to France, deepened the crisis.
A 4-0 win against debutants Samoa briefly restored belief, enough to push Nigeria into the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
But against Italy, the Flamingos fell apart again, losing 4-0 in what is possibly one of their worst-ever World Cup performances.
The statistics tell a grim story. Nigeria conceded nine goals, their joint-worst defensive record in tournament history. It was also the first time they lost three matches in a single edition and the first time they played four or more games but won only once.
What had been a bright, promising team suddenly looked disjointed. Goalkeeping errors, poor organisation, and a blunt attack turned the once-celebrated side into one struggling for cohesion and confidence.
After the final whistle against Italy, coach Bankole Olowookere took full responsibility.
“First of all, I want to apologise to our fans all over the world,” he wrote on his X page. “We’re sorry it had to end this way. There are lessons to learn and positives to take home. I’m proud of the girls because they gave their best.”
The apology struck a chord with fans, many of whom had expected another deep run in the tournament. But beyond emotions, the result could have real consequences for Olowookere’s coaching career.
Nominated for the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year award, Olowookere was once seen as a strong contender alongside Super Falcons boss Justine Madugu, Morocco’s Jorge Vilda, and South Africa’s Desiree Ellis.
However, after this World Cup disappointment, Madugu now stands as the clear favourite to clinch the continental honour.
For Olowookere and the Flamingos, Morocco 2025 will go down as a painful lesson, a reminder that talent and preparation must still be matched with composure, strategy, and mental resilience when the stakes are highest.