Former Flamingos head coach Bankole Olowookere has warned that anxiety, impatience and poor decision-making could threaten Nigeria’s chances of reaching the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final, urging the technical crew to prioritise psychological preparation ahead of their crucial semi-final encounter against Brazil, Sports247.ng reports.
Speaking after Nigeria’s dramatic 1-0 quarter-final victory over Venezuela, Olowookere explained that the pressure of performing on the global stage can overwhelm young players, particularly when they become desperate to impress.
“Nervousness is one side, being hasty is another thing. Trying to just get it done sometimes becomes too wasteful,” Olowookere explained.
The former coach, who guided Nigeria to a historic bronze medal at the 2022 tournament, stressed that the players’ eagerness to succeed must be carefully managed.
“They are not yet professionals. They are pure amateurs, so they want to make names for themselves,” he stated.
According to Olowookere, missed opportunities and unexpected difficulties can trigger frustration, affecting concentration and composure during important matches.
“If it’s not coming easily, they get agitated,” he warned.
The experienced tactician insisted that the problem is not peculiar to Nigeria, explaining that young footballers worldwide require psychological support to handle competitive pressure.
“It takes a high level of psychological preparation. That’s where they need pep talks,” he emphasised.
Olowookere, however, encouraged the Flamingos to focus on winning rather than becoming overwhelmed by expectations.
“What matters now is winning. How you want to get there, just get there,” he declared.
He urged the players to remain patient, maintain their established playing style and avoid unnecessary mistakes against Brazil.
“They just need to be careful and make sure they maintain how they display their football without losing focus,” he advised.
Nigeria face Brazil on Wednesday, November 4, with a historic first-ever World Cup final appearance at stake.
Olowookere believes the Flamingos have demonstrated enough quality to challenge the South Americans but must control their emotions to achieve their ambitions.
“They have history ahead of them,” he concluded.
For Nigeria’s youngsters, the challenge is no longer just about footballing ability, but possessing the mental strength to perform when the stakes are highest.
