The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mohammed Sanusi, has formally welcomed the U17 Women's National Team, the Flamingos, back from the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in the Dominican Republic, stating that the team put up a good fight and should be encouraged despite their quarter-final elimination by the United States of America.
“The Nigeria Football Federation is proud of the Flamingos and the effort they put into the competition. Two years ago, they defeated the USA on penalties at the same stage, on their way to winning the bronze medal. That is football for you.
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“If you watched their games, you would agree that the girls fought hard in every match. They dominated the group stage, collecting the maximum nine points and scoring nine goals while conceding only one.
“They created several chances against the USA but were quite unlucky. This is a good team, and the players must be encouraged moving forward. I believe many of them have the skill, temperament, and discipline to progress to the U20 squad.”
The Flamingos returned to Nigeria on Tuesday after their 0-2 defeat by the USA in Santiago de los Caballeros, which ended their run in the tournament.
The girls had beaten New Zealand 4-1, routed Ecuador 4-0, and narrowly defeated host nation Dominican Republic 1-0 to top Group A.
Head Coach Bankole Olowookere commented, “Against the USA, it was simply not our day.
“The girls created opportunities, but the ball just wouldn’t go in. The Americans took their chances—that’s football.
“We will begin working immediately to build an even stronger team for the next edition, as the tournament is now annual, and the work must start now.”
The FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic will be the last played biennially, with the competition set to be held annually starting next year, with Morocco hosting the first five editions.
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