Flamingos head coach, Bankole Olowookere, has expressed confidence that his team can defeat Italy in their Round of 16 clash at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place today (Tuesday) at the Football Academy Mohamed VI in Rabat, Morocco.

Italy has been in impressive form so far, winning all three of their group stage matches against Brazil, Morocco, and Costa Rica, to top their group. The Flamingos, however, had a tougher journey to the knockout stage, qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams after securing only one win in Group C.

Despite the odds, Coach Olowookere believes his players have what it takes to cause an upset. “Nobody in football is unbeatable. Italy hasn’t lost yet, but there’s always a first time. Maybe that first time will come against Nigeria,” he told reporters before the game.

He added that his team has learned from their early mistakes in the tournament and are determined to keep their World Cup dream alive. “My girls are not ready to go home; they still have something to prove. We’ll correct our early mistakes and fight to the end,” he said confidently.

The match against Italy will be a crucial test for the Flamingos as they aim to advance to the quarter-finals and continue their pursuit of glory at the global stage. Nigerian fans are hopeful that the team’s fighting spirit and determination will shine through in the must-win encounter.