The Nigerian Senate has announced a ₦100 million donation to the Flamingos, the country’s Under-17 women’s football team, following their historic victory at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, 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.
Ningi described the victory as historic, noting that the young players had achieved what several other Nigerian national teams had struggled to accomplish. He also expressed concern over the lack of publicity and recognition given to the team.
Seconding the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole praised the Flamingos for defeating Japan in the final, describing their victory as proof of the potential of Nigerian youths. He urged Nigerians to celebrate the country’s achievements and called for financial support for the players’ education.
The Senate also urged the Federal Government to adequately reward the players and congratulated President Bola Tinubu, Nigerians and the National Sports Commission Chairman, Shehu Dikko.
Akpabio described the victory as a major achievement for Nigeria and Africa, particularly after the team defeated football nations such as Brazil and Japan.
“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 Africa for the first time and for Nigeria,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government to reward the players and called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep the team together and develop them for future competitions.
“The Nigerian Football Federation, under its leadership, should see the need to keep these children together and develop them further,” Akpabio added.
He said the ₦100 million donation was intended to recognise the players’ achievement and encourage them to continue making Nigeria proud.
