Bankole Olowookere, head coach of Nigeria’s women’s under-17 team, has assured that the Flamingos will maintain their momentum as they prepare to face hosts Dominican Republic in their final group game, Afrosport reports.
The Flamingos, bronze medallist from the last edition in India, have won their first two games and sit atop Group A, scoring eight goals, and conceding just one.
They began their campaign with an emphatic 4-1 win over New Zealand in their group opener, and followed it up with another impressive 4-0 victory over Ecuador on Saturday to book a spot in the quarterfinals with one game to spare.
Olowookere, who has been impressed with the performances of the Flamingos, says there’s more to come as they progress in the tournament.
“Tactically, we have been able to get convincing wins and I want to thank the players for adhering to the tactics,” the gaffer told NFF media.
“They are kids and sometimes they are filled with anxiety and I have to calm them down. During training, we have game plans and I always tell them to go by the game plans and assure them that the goals will come if they listen and follow the game plan.”
“I will not change our messages to Nigerians but to thank and appreciate them for their support. They should keep supporting us, and having kept these vigils, it will not go in vain. Anytime they are watching us, we will give them joy, and we are going to make them proud. This is a promise that we made to them before we left Nigeria, and we are fulfilling the promise to them for them to be proud of us,” he added.
The Flamingos will go again in the early hours of Wednesday against host nation Dominican Republic at the Estadio Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo, with the match scheduled to kick off at 12am Nigerian Time.
