Flamingos

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigerian Senate has approved a N100m donation to the country’s U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, following their historic victory at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the financial reward during Tuesday’s plenary session while presiding over a motion sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, to celebrate the team’s achievement.

Moving the motion, Ningi described the triumph as a landmark accomplishment, noting that the young footballers had achieved what several other Nigerian national teams had yet to accomplish.

He said the victory was particularly impressive because the team had not attracted much attention or high expectations before the tournament.

The lawmaker expressed disappointment over what he considered inadequate media coverage and national appreciation of the players’ achievement. He insisted that the team deserved greater recognition for bringing pride to Nigeria and the African continent.

Ningi also criticised the insufficient official reception and recognition accorded to the players after their return to the country.

Supporting the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, praised the Flamingos for overcoming Japan in the final, describing their success as proof of the determination and capabilities of Nigerian youths.

Oshiomhole urged citizens to acknowledge the country’s accomplishments instead of concentrating exclusively on its difficulties. He also called on the Senate leadership to provide financial assistance to the players to support their education while they pursue their football careers.

The Senate subsequently adopted the motion, congratulating President Bola Tinubu for his contributions to sports development, the Nigerian public on the historic achievement and the National Sports Commission, particularly its chairman, Shehu Dikko.

The lawmakers also called on the Federal Government to ensure that the players receive appropriate rewards and compensation for their outstanding performance.

In his remarks, Akpabio described the Flamingos’ triumph as a major achievement for Nigeria and Africa, particularly because of their victories over established football nations, including Brazil and Japan.

He urged the Federal Government to adequately reward the players and appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation to retain the team and invest in their development for future competitions.

The Senate President also encouraged wealthy Nigerians and sports enthusiasts to support the young footballers and inspire more children to take up sporting activities.

He explained that the N100m contribution from the National Assembly was meant to appreciate the players’ efforts and motivate them to achieve greater success.

“I want to commend the Flamingos, the U-17 youth team of Nigeria, for defeating major countries such as Brazil and Japan to win the Under-17 World Cup for Africa for the first time and for Nigeria.

“We also urged, and we pray that the Federal Government will recognise these children accordingly and give them adequate rewards.

“The Nigerian Football Federation, under its leadership, should see the need to keep these children together and develop them further,” Akpabio said.

He concluded by congratulating the players, the Senate Committee on Sports and Nigerians on the team’s historic World Cup victory.