The Nigerian Senate has announced a N100 million reward for the country’s Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, following their historic victory at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
The financial pledge is in recognition of the team’s outstanding performance at the global tournament, where the young Nigerian players defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final to emerge champions.
Politics Nigeria reports that the victory marked a major milestone for Nigerian football and made the Flamingos the first African team to win the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Senate made the pledge following a motion moved by the Chairman of its Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ningi.
During the proceedings, the lawmaker congratulated the players for their achievement and praised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for its contribution to the team’s success.
Ningi described the victory as a significant moment for Nigerian sports, noting that the players had demonstrated determination, discipline and commitment throughout the competition.
The lawmakers also acknowledged the efforts of the technical crew, officials and other individuals who contributed to the team’s preparation and eventual triumph.
The Flamingos’ victory over Japan attracted attention to Nigeria’s growing presence in women’s football, particularly at youth level.
Their performance demonstrated the potential of young Nigerian players to compete successfully against some of the strongest football nations in the world.
By overcoming Japan in the final, the team secured a title that had remained beyond the reach of African countries since the introduction of the competition.
Their achievement also placed Nigeria in the history books as the first African nation to lift the trophy.
The Senate said the players deserved recognition for bringing honour to the country and raising Nigeria’s profile on the international sporting stage.
Lawmakers also commended President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians for the support given to the team during its campaign.
They noted that sustained encouragement from the government and citizens was important in motivating young athletes to pursue sporting excellence.
Beyond the financial reward, the Senate called on the Federal Government to increase its commitment to sports development across the country.
The lawmakers stressed that Nigeria needed a more consistent approach to identifying, training and supporting young sporting talents.
They maintained that the country’s latest achievement should serve as an opportunity to strengthen investment in grassroots sports rather than treating the victory as an isolated success.
According to the Senate, adequate funding remains essential to developing young athletes, improving sporting facilities and providing the necessary training equipment for national teams.
They also highlighted the importance of creating an environment where talented young Nigerians can develop their abilities without facing unnecessary challenges associated with inadequate facilities and limited institutional support.
The lawmakers maintained that the government must ensure that the country’s sporting achievements are supported with policies and investments capable of producing more international successes.
Moreover, the Senate’s intervention has therefore placed attention on the responsibility of government and football administrators to ensure that the players receive the recognition and support they deserve.
The lawmakers urged the relevant authorities to sustain the momentum created by the victory and ensure that young athletes across the country are given opportunities to develop their sporting abilities.
They also emphasised that Nigeria must move beyond celebrating international victories and establish a lasting structure that would enable the country to produce more champions in different sporting disciplines.
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