FLAMINGOS of Nigeria head coach Bankole Olowookere has blamed his side’s defeat to Canada in the Morocco 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on the failure to convert scoring opportunities.
Canada scored three late goals to win the opening group match 4-1 last night, after the Flamingos blew several chances to take the lead.
Olowookere said he and his players will learn from the errors as they seek to recover and qualify for the next round.
“This was a huge game. Sometimes mistakes happen. We had our chances at the first half,” the coach said in his post-match press conference.
“We didn’t take advantage of them and we paid dearly for it. I think it’s a lesson we’ll keep learning, and then we’ll go back and watch how we played and see how we bounce back.”
Canada head coach Jen Herst detailed how her side plotted to beat the Flamingos, whom she admitted were physically stronger.
“We knew Nigeria were going to be a physical team, that they were going to be strong in the transition,” Herst noted.
“We were prepared to weather that storm in the first half.
“We made a couple of tweaks at half-time in terms of us being higher, being more aggressive, and looking to get pressure on them higher up the pitch with our wingers, with our full-backs.
“I think that really turned the tide and put it into our favour.”
The Flamingos face France next on Wednesday, with a round of 16 ticket on the line.