The Senate will hand N100 million in cash to the Flamingos Under-17, Nigeria's girls' team, to mark the squad's historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Rabat, Morocco. The donation matters because it is a rare national reward for a side that, by the senators' own account, came home without enough official recognition.
The Senate President disclosed the donation on Tuesday during plenary, while senators were considering Sen. Abdul Ningi's (ADC-Bauchi Central) motion congratulating the victorious girls.
Ningi says the Flamingos Under-17 deserve more recognition
Calling the win historic, Ningi pointed out that these young players, the Flamingos Under-17, had managed something that a number of other Nigerian national sides had found difficult to pull off.
In his words, the triumph stood out all the more because few people had expected much from the players ahead of the tournament.
The senator voiced unease that the feat had not been given enough publicity or national acknowledgement, and added that the players merited celebration for having brought honour to both Nigeria and Africa.
He further lamented that the squad was not given adequate official recognition when it came back home.
Oshiomhole backs a reward that also pays for schooling
Edo North's representative in the Senate, Adams Oshiomhole of the APC, seconded the motion. Reflecting on the victory over Japan in the title decider, he said it demonstrated the talent and determination of Nigeria's young people.
He called on Nigerians to take pride in what the country has accomplished instead of dwelling all the time on its problems.
Oshiomhole also called on those leading the Senate to give money to the squad, so that the players' schooling could be paid for alongside their football careers.
What the Senate approved
The Senate then approved Ningi's prayers, which were as follows:
- Congratulations to President Bola Tinubu for supporting the growth of sports.
- Congratulations to Nigerians on the landmark victory.
- Congratulations to the National Sports Commission's management, especially its Chairman, Shehu Dikko.
- An appeal to the Nigerian authorities at the centre to give the players suitable compensation and rewards in recognition of what they have achieved.
Akpabio urges the NFF to keep the Flamingos together
Speaking for his part, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the win as a major accomplishment for Nigeria and for Africa, noting that the Flamingos Under-17 had beaten established football nations such as Brazil and Japan.
Akpabio called on the federal authorities to give the players a reward befitting what they achieved, and asked the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep the squad intact and carry on nurturing the girls for future competitions.
The Senate President further asked well-off Nigerians and lovers of sport to back the players and to inspire other youths to take up sport.
According to him, the N100 million given by the National Assembly was meant to acknowledge what the players had achieved and spur them to keep making the country proud.
“I wish to congratulate the Flamingos, Nigeria's Under-17 side, for overcoming giants such as Brazil and Japan and winning the Under-17 World Cup for Africa, a feat Nigeria has recorded for the very first occasion.
“We also appeal, and we pray, for the Nigerian authorities in Abuja to acknowledge these young players appropriately and to reward them adequately.
“The Nigerian Football Federation, under its leadership, should see the need to keep these children together and develop them further,” Akpabio said.
He extended his congratulations to the squad members, the Senate Committee on Sports and all Nigerians over the historic triumph. (NAN)
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The original report was published by Vanguard: Sports.
