Nigeria’s Flamingos made a gritty 3-2 comeback against Ivory Coast at the ongoing WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup, securing a crucial six points from two matches.

However, head coach Bankole Olowookere is displeased over late goals conceded and the mounting injury concerns, explaining the toll the tight tournament schedule is having on his team.

Speaking after the match, Olowookere admitted satisfaction with the points but revealed his frustration with the way the game unfolded.

The Flamingos seemed in control but allowed two goals in the final stages, a trend he wants to address before their next encounter with the Benin Republic on Thursday.

“Camp is okay, but not that lively in the sense that the result of the match is not what you plan for,” Olowookere began, visibly dissatisfied with the late-game lapses.

“Considering the goals that were conceded late in the game and within the space of time,” he added, highlighting the team’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Speaking on the challenges his team has faced so far, Coach Olowookere lamented;

“Developing a campaign like this is just something that is beyond what you can just talk about. Football is mysterious. So sometimes you can have something that is inevitable. We just have to know how to manage this situation.”

One major issue for Olowookere is the mounting injuries, which have started to affect the team’s performance, including its physical and mental on his players.

“One, There is a lot of concentration. Two, We are having numbers of injuries. When it’s a tournament, you have to play again and again and again.”

With the competition’s packed schedule offering little time for recovery, Olowookere said his players are simply doing their best to manage the situation.

“There is no time for recuperation. They are just trying to manage,” he continued. “Even though we won two matches, we have six points. Even though we have much more goal margin. But the match, the manner that we conceded was not that good.”

Olowookere also addressed his players’ morale after the win, urging them to remain positive despite the imperfections in their performances.

“They are trying to be careful about me as a coach,” he said. “I have told them to feel free. But at the same time, we just have to change the sense of remorse. We are sorry that we didn’t have that clean sheet of 3-0.”

The Flamingos now turn their focus to their next match against Benin Republic, where they will be hoping to improve their performance, secure another win, and move closer to the top of the standings in what is proving to be a tough competition.