President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, for making history as the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Rabat, Morocco, to claim their maiden title and achieve a landmark victory for Nigerian and African women’s football.
In a congratulatory statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the triumph as a proud moment for Nigeria and a remarkable achievement for the continent.
The President, who received the news upon returning from campaign engagements in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, praised the players for their courage, discipline, determination and resilience throughout the competition.
“What wonderful news to return home to! Our young girls have conquered the world and given Nigerians everywhere another reason to celebrate our great country,” he said.
Tinubu said he had followed the team’s progress throughout the tournament, recalling that the players had promised to bring home the trophy after their semi-final victory.
According to him, the Flamingos fulfilled their promise through collective determination, teamwork and belief in their abilities.
He said the victory would inspire millions of young Nigerian girls who aspire to excel in sports and other fields, demonstrating that hard work, opportunity and determination could help them achieve their dreams.
The President particularly commended Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku, whose goals secured Nigeria’s victory over Japan, while praising the entire squad for their outstanding teamwork.
He also congratulated the coaching crew, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission for their contributions to the team’s success.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in grassroots sports development and creating more opportunities for young Nigerians, particularly girls, to discover, develop and fulfil their potential.
“Today, Nigeria celebrates you. You have written your names in gold, and your country is immensely proud of you,” the President said.
