Flamingos head coach Bankole Olowookere expressed deep disappointment after Nigeria’s narrow 1-0 loss to France in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday.

A late strike from Maïssa Fathallah secured the win for France, ensuring their round-of-16 qualification, while the Flamingos were left rueing missed opportunities, Footballrover reports.

Flamingos show resilience but fall short against France

The first half was a tense, tactical battle, with both sides probing cautiously but neither willing to concede space.

Flamingos goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface was key, making a series of crucial saves to keep the game level.

France, however, remained patient, threatening through Luna Laboucarie and other attacking players, keeping Nigeria’s defence alert.

In the second half, the Flamingos continued to press for a breakthrough, creating chances but unable to find the net.

France eventually found the decisive moment in the closing stages when Fathallah’s low strike beat Boniface, handing the Flamingos a heartbreaking defeat.

Olowookere admits heartbreak after narrow defeat

Reflecting on the game, Olowookere told FIFA.com that the loss was “painful and unfortunate”, praising his team’s improved performance compared to their opening 4-1 defeat to Canada.

“The game we played against France was much better than the one against Canada,” he said. “If we had shown the same kind of fight in the first game, we wouldn’t be in this position now. It was really unfortunate to concede that late goal, heartbreaking even.”

Olowookere insisted the Flamingos would continue to work hard to remain competitive in the tournament.

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Last Updated on October 23, 2025 7:37 am by footballrover