U-17 WWC: Why we lost to Germany — Flamingos coach, Olowookere

By Adeleye Kunle

Flamingos head coach, Bankole Olowookere has explained the reason behind his team’s defeat to Germany at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.

The Nigerian girls fell to a 2-1 defeat against the Germans in their opening fixture in Goa on Tuesday.

The Flamingos led 1-0 at the break, courtesy of a superb free-kick from Miracle Usani.

Germany, however, took control of the game in the second half and scored twice through Svea Stold and Mara Alber.

Olowookere conceded that the Germans made things difficult for his players by not allowing them play to their strength.

“At a time, we were forced to play their patterns, we love to play on the ground but they lifted the ball, so we were unable to play our game,” Olowookere said in a short video interview posted Track News.

“We are going to work hard in the second game, we will block all the loopholes because we needed to win the next match.

“I and the rest of the technical crew will play a fatherly and motherly role so that we can lift the spirit of the players ahead of the second match”, he said.

The Flamingos will face New Zealand in their second game in the competition on Friday