The Flamingos, who are now on the brink of elimination after suffering back-to-back losses in Morocco, showed considerable improvement compared to their opening match against Canada. However, they were undone by a late goal from France’s Maissa Fathallah in the 81st minute.

Speaking after the match, Olowookere expressed disappointment but remained determined, vowing the team would not give up on their qualification dreams.

“It’s really disappointing,” Olowookere said. “But as we said before, we just need to focus on getting something from the next game. We’ll work hard and see how we can stay in the tournament.”

Despite the loss, the coach found positives in his team’s fighting spirit and expressed confidence that a strong performance in their final group game against Samoa could still give them a chance to progress.

“The performance today was much better than the one against Canada,” he noted. “If we had shown this level of fight in that first game, we wouldn’t be in this situation now. It’s unfortunate that we conceded so late, but we’ll work on it and do our best to stay in the competition.”

Read Also: U-17 Women’s W’Cup: Flamingos drawn with hosts in Group A

With no points and a goal deficit to recover, Olowookere emphasized the need for his team to be clinical in front of goal when they face Samoa in their final group fixture.

“Three points will be enough to keep us in contention,” he said. “We have a four-goal deficit to make up, so our first priority against Samoa is to secure the three points, then we’ll focus on improving our goal difference and getting back on track.”

The final group match will be crucial in determining whether Olowookere’s squad can extend their stay in Morocco or face elimination at the group stage. A convincing victory over Samoa is essential for any hopes of reaching the knockout rounds, either by finishing as one of the best third-placed teams or through direct qualification.

Source: Punch