Nigeria’s Flamingos crashed out of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup following a heavy 4–0 defeat to Italy in the round of 16 on Tuesday night.
Head coach Bankole Olowookere described the loss as “quite painful,” admitting his disappointment with the team’s early exit but emphasising that the experience will be invaluable for the players’ development.
Speaking to FIFA.com after the match, Olowookere said the tournament had been a major learning curve for his young squad, noting that such challenges would help them mature for future competitions.
Despite showing promise in the group stage, the Flamingos struggled to contain Italy’s attacking efficiency, conceding twice in each half and ending their campaign abruptly.
Olowookere, however, maintained optimism about the team’s potential, saying the lessons learned in this competition will serve as a foundation for greater success at higher levels.
He said, “Honestly, it’s quite painful. We came into the game with the mindset of doing something special, making sure that we win and we progress to the next stage.
“Unfortunately, we held the game for 44 minutes before the painful goal came in, and it was all squandered in the second half. It’s one of those things.
“The players gained a lot of experience. Going to the World Cup, having met many other nations, many other players and altogether, those experiences go a long way to help their career, to make them superstars in the future.”
