FIFA U-17: FCC hails Flamingos, urges investment in women football
FIFA U-17: FCC hails Flamingos, urges investment in women football
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Mrs Hulayat Omidiran, has congratulated Nigeria’s Flamingos on their historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Omidiran lauded the girls achievement in a goodwill message on Sunday in Abuja
She described the achievement as a “proud moment for the country and a testament to the talent and determination of Nigerian girls.”
The former member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Board and a long-standing advocate of women’s football, praised the players, technical crew, NFF and other stakeholders for their contributions.
She commended the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for her continued advocacy for women’s empowerment and also the contribution of the National Sports Commission (NSC) in the development of Nigerian sports.
“I warmly congratulate our Flamingos on this historic achievement.
“They have made Nigeria proud and demonstrated once again that our young girls possess the talent, character and determination to excel on the world stage.
“Their success belongs not only to the team but to every Nigerian who believes in the potential of our young people,” Omidiran said.
The FCC boss said the achievement should go beyond celebrations and serve as a turning point for the development of women’s football in Nigeria.
She stressed that the country must build on the team’s success by creating opportunities for more girls to discover, develop and pursue their football ambitions.
“We must not wait for another generation of Flamingos to emerge by chance; we need a deliberate system that identifies these talents early and develops them properly.
“We must protect them and provide a clear pathway from grassroots football to the Flamingos, Falconets and ultimately the Super Falcons,” she said.
Omidiran called for a deliberate and well-funded national plan that prioritises grassroots scouting and school competitions.
She emphasised on youth development, coaching, player welfare, sports science and infrastructure, while creating a clear pathway for young talents to progress to the senior national team.
“Investment in women’s football must go beyond preparing national teams for tournaments. We must invest in the ecosystem that produces the players.
“A strong domestic league, quality youth competitions, competent coaches, functional academies and regular competitive football are essential if we want our success at the global level to become sustainable,” she said
Omidiran stressed the need to strengthen women’s domestic league, support clubs and academies, improve playing facilities and expand grassroots programmes.
Read Also: Wema Bank rewards 11 innovators with N300m at Hackaholics 7.0
She noted that the FIFA U-15 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to begin in 2027, is another opportunity for Nigeria to invest in the next generation.
She urged relevant football authorities and stakeholders to start preparations early rather than wait until the competition approaches.
Omidiran said Nigeria should see this not simply as another FIFA competition, but as a platform to build the next generation of Nigerian footballers.
“Our girls should know that there is a pathway for them, and our football system must be ready to support that journey.
“Let this victory inspire thousands of girls watching from our schools, communities and football academies.
“The message is, you can dream, you can work for it and you can represent Nigeria on the biggest stage,” she said.
