“Flamingo’s Best Wasn’t Enough” – Olowookere

The Nigeria women’s team, Flamingo losses 2-0 to the USA in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup quarterfinal match at Estadio Cibao.

Nigeria head coach Bankole Olowookere says the players gave their best at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic, which was not enough in their 2-0 defeat to the USA in the first quarterfinal match at Estadio Cibao, Santiago de Los Caballeros.

The Americans scored in each half, with Kennedy Fuller putting in front on 43 minutes and Kimmi Ascanio doubled the lead on 74 minutes, avenging their penalty shootout defeat against Nigeria in their epic clash at the 2022 edition in India in 2022.

While the result sends the USA to the semi-finals for the first time since the inaugural edition in 2008, Nigeria missed out on a second successive semifinal.

During a post-match press conference cited by FIFA.com, Olowookere said he was proud of the girls, adding that they can go beyond the level, which they would strive to achieve the next time.

“I’m so proud of the girls; they’ve given it their best, come all this way, and they are kids who are developing. They’ve given their best, but maybe their best was not good enough. To my fellow Nigerians, we can go beyond this level, and we will try and be better next time,” said the gaffer, who had been confident of the team going all the way after picking the bronze at the last edition.

Nigeria were one of a few teams with a 100 percent group record but were dominated by the Americans, with a pivotal moment coming in the minutes before halftime, when the referee pointed to the spot after Jocelyn Travers was brought down in the area. A video review confirmed the penalty, and Kennedy Fuller tucked it away to hand the USA a lead.

The second half was just as hard fought as the first, and Nigeria were the ones to craft the first big chance when a USA giveaway set up Taiwo Afolabi, whose shot was parried wide by Evan Osteen. USA were starting to poke holes in Nigeria’s high defensive line, and it paid off when Fuller found Kimmi Ascanio, who slotted home to ice the win.