By Onyekachi Chimezie
Nigeria U-17 women’s Head Coach Olowookere Bankole couldn’t hide his excited while speaking with the media shortly after Nigeria’s penalty shootout victory against USA.
The Flamingos came out on top and they made history in front of fans at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai India on Friday evening to seal an Historic semi-final ticket.
A game which ended in a 1-1 draw in regular time was then decided in a penalty shootout in which Nigeria won 4-3.
Coach Bankole whose name will go down as the first manager to take an African team to the semi finals of U-17 women’s world cup appreciated God for achieving the feat.
“I am happy that over 200 millions Nigerians are happy, and there is nothing else I can give to Nigerians other than this victory. I say all praise to God almighty and thanks to my players and all the entire team that came all the way from Nigeria to this tournament.
Nigeria who weren’t favourite going into Friday’s quarter-final and coach Olowookere Bankole took out time to remember everyon why he came to India.
“In all my interviews I said I am here to create a lot of upsets, I am here to make a lot of things turn around. I am a new person in the system and I believe I’ve my future ahead of me I believe I have to protect myself, protect my certificate and protect my country Nigerians these are the things that I’ve made up my mind to do and I’ve told my players that come on girls we need to make it for our country and for the first time we need to get to the next stage.
“We are not destined to be in the quarter-finals, we are a big nation in football so we just need to work things out and we worked it out and God allowed us that’s why we are out today.
Coach Bankole also thanked Nigerians for their support thus far.
“I say thank you to them, I really appreciate them and I thank them for their support from the beginning and they should not stop their support because we still have more games ahead of us so they shouldn’t stop supporting us, God bless them for us.
Victory for the Flamingos means they will make their first appearance at the semis of the FIFA U-17 women’s world cup and will wait to know their opponent when Columbia clash with Tanzania on Saturday.
