Nigeria 1:4 Canada U-17 Women's WC, A Retrospective Reflection

You have to wonder whether, as a coach, Bankole Olowookere is getting worse, and as a scout, he has lost his sight.

This is a coach, if I am not mistaken, who is having a third bite at the world cup puff puff at this level. It is not a stretch to call him a legend. Also, I believe he is very active in the local women's league.

Yet he assembled a collection of girls who cannot coordinate as a group, who cannot not perform well as individuals.

Just look at the third goal conceded. That goalkeeper error, even for this level of football, was most unacceptable, most embarrassing. Yet, this player, Boniface, would have had this tendency but it went unnoticed in training sessions until it emerged to embarrass Nigeria at this highest level.

Perhaps we should encourage any player named Boniface to kindly keep away from any of our national teams at any age of gender for now.

The first goal conceded was preventable. Simple cross from our right as the entire defensive infrastructure was caught ball watching. Our markings were not tight, anticipation was non existence, interception was nowhere to be found.

There was minimal integration as the team looked disjointed and disorganised in their movements and interactions.

I couldn't think of a sustained period of inspirational play. Even the goal we scored was a source of worry as it reminded of Coach Bankole's over-reliance on long shot strategy which is, let's face it, lazy football, when overdone.

I remember one of the goals conceded, I think the second one, when our central defender was left clasping at air after a neat leg over from the Canadian, creating a clear sight of goal from whence she punished Nigeria.

It was shameful, it was shambles.

Nigeria should not be going down 4:1 to Canada. We have good young football ladies scattered all over the country and in diaspora. Where were they last night?

Enough negativity.

I think Coach Bankole should rejig this team, rearrange the ladies, make them play more compact football, and make them generate intricate, incisive routines to retain possession and score goals. I think he has it in him, I think the players have it in them

This defeat might just be the wake up call for the team to realise where they are, why they are there and what they need to do.

Good luck to the Flamingos in subsequent matches. We haven't given up on them, not yet!