Flamingos head coach Bankole Olowookere says his team is fully focused on their upcoming Round of 16 showdown with Italy at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria secured their place in the knockout stage after a commanding 4–0 win over Samoa on Saturday, advancing as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament.
Their next opponents, Italy, progressed with maximum points after winning all three of their group fixtures and are widely regarded as favourites heading into the encounter.
Olowookere acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead but believes a strong opponent will help refine the team’s performance.
“It’s good that we have strong opposition, to prepare us for the next game. We have to work on those areas where they were able to penetrate from our team,” he was quoted by FIFA.com.
The coach expressed optimism that the Flamingos can rise to the challenge as they continue their pursuit of World Cup success.
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