President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, following their historic victory at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final held in Rabat, Morocco, to win Nigeria’s first-ever title in the competition and become the first African country to lift the trophy.
Tinubu described the victory as a remarkable achievement for Nigeria and a historic moment for African women’s football.
The President’s congratulatory message was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu said he received the news of the team’s victory shortly after returning from campaign engagements in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, describing it as wonderful news and another reason for Nigerians to celebrate.
He praised the young players for their courage, discipline, determination and commitment, noting that they had demonstrated the true Nigerian spirit by refusing to give up throughout the tournament.
According to the President, he had followed the team’s progress during the competition and was particularly impressed by their determination to win the trophy after defeating their opponents in the semi-final.
He said the players had fulfilled their promise to bring the trophy home by believing in themselves, working together and proudly representing Nigeria on the international stage.
Tinubu also described the victory as an inspiration to millions of young Nigerian girls who aspire to achieve greatness in sports and other areas of life.
He noted that the Flamingos had demonstrated that hard work, determination and access to opportunities could help young girls reach the highest levels of achievement.
The President particularly commended Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku, whose goals secured the historic 2-1 victory against Japan in the final.
He also praised the entire squad for their teamwork and outstanding performance, while congratulating the coaching crew, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for their contributions to the team’s success.
Tinubu further 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.
He urged the players to remain focused and continue making the country proud, describing their achievement as a historic moment that would be remembered in Nigerian and African football.
The President concluded by congratulating the Flamingos once again, saying the country was immensely proud of their achievement.
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