Head coach of Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, Bankole Olowookere, says the Flamingos are determined to have another goal feast when they host Central African Republic in a second leg first round game of the 2024 U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Friday (today).
The Flamingos hold a huge first leg advantage after winning the earlier fixture 6-0 at the adopted home ground of their opponents in Doula, Cameroon last Sunday.
A brace each from Bayelsa Queens midfielder Shakirat Moshood and Imo Strikers’ Harmony Chidi as well other goals from Prisca Nwachukwu and Edidiong Etim gave Nigeria the win in the first leg but Olowookere feels the job is not done yet.
“We will not be taking any chances. It is a FIFA World Cup qualifier and even though we won the first leg by a wide margin, there is the need to take the return leg seriously and fire on all cylinders. We will not be taking our feet off the pedal,” the coach told NFF media.
In 2022, Olowookere led the team to win the bronze medal at the last edition of the World Cup in India after beating Germany on penalties in the third-place match.
Since the start of the Women’s U-17 World Cup in 2008, Nigeria have only failed to qualify once – the 2018 finals in Uruguay.
