The Nigerian Senate has approved a N100m cash reward for the Flamingos following their historic victory at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the donation during plenary on Tuesday while presiding over a motion moved by Senator Abdul Ningi to congratulate the team on its achievement.
Ningi described the triumph as a landmark accomplishment, noting that the young footballers had achieved what several Nigerian national teams had struggled to accomplish.
He, however, expressed concern that the victory had not received sufficient publicity and national recognition.
The senator said the players deserved to be celebrated for bringing honour to Nigeria and the African continent, particularly given the limited expectations surrounding the team before the competition.
Seconding the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole praised the Flamingos for defeating Japan in the final, describing their performance as a demonstration of the potential and determination of Nigerian youths.
Oshiomhole urged Nigerians to celebrate the country’s achievements rather than concentrate exclusively on its challenges.
He also called on the Senate leadership to provide financial support for the players to assist their education alongside their football careers.
The Senate subsequently adopted the motion, congratulating President Bola Tinubu on his support for sports development, as well as Nigerians and the leadership of the National Sports Commission, particularly its chairman, Shehu Dikko.
It also urged the Federal Government to provide appropriate compensation and rewards for the players in recognition of their achievement.
Speaking further, Akpabio described the Flamingos’ triumph as a significant milestone for Nigeria and Africa, noting that the team overcame established football nations, including Brazil and Japan, on its way to winning the competition.
He urged the Federal Government to adequately reward the players and called on the Nigeria Football Federation to retain the squad and continue developing the young talents for future competitions.
“I want to commend the Flamingos, the Under-17 youth team of Nigeria, for defeating major countries such as Brazil and Japan to win the Under-17 World Cup for the first time for Africa 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 added that the N100m contribution from the National Assembly was intended to recognise the players’ achievement and encourage them to continue representing the country successfully.
The Senate President also appealed to wealthy Nigerians and sports enthusiasts to support the players and invest in the development of young sporting talents.
The Flamingos secured their maiden FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title on Saturday, November 7, after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final played in Rabat, Morocco.
Nigeria took the lead through Awawu Bashiru in the 39th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the advantage shortly after the restart in the 47th minute.
Japan’s Fuki Ito reduced the deficit in the 80th minute, but the Nigerian side held on to secure the historic victory.
The triumph made Nigeria the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the first African women’s national team to claim a FIFA World Cup title at any age level.
The achievement followed an impressive recovery by the Nigerian youngsters, who lost their opening match against Poland before winning their subsequent fixtures to reach the final.
Their campaign included a notable victory over defending champions North Korea in the group stage and a 3-1 defeat of Brazil in the semi-final.
Nigeria had previously recorded its best performance at the competition in 2022, when the Flamingos finished third in India.
The latest triumph therefore represents a major breakthrough for Nigerian women’s football and a historic moment for the African continent.
