Senate Pledges N100m Reward for Flamingos After Historic World Cup Triumph
The Nigerian Senate has pledged a ₦100 million financial reward to the country’s Under-17 women’s national football team, 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 on Tuesday during plenary in Abuja, following the consideration of a motion sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi, who called for national recognition and adequate rewards for the victorious players.
Akpabio said the National Assembly would provide the team with ₦100 million in recognition of their achievement, describing their triumph as a significant moment for Nigerian and African football.
“From the National Assembly, even if we do not have anything else to give these children, we will make a token of N100 million to them immediately,” the Senate President said.
The Senate also urged the Federal Government to provide additional financial incentives to the players in recognition of their contribution to the country’s sporting achievements.
Moving the motion, Ningi commended the young footballers for their determination, noting that their achievement deserved greater national recognition, particularly against the backdrop of Nigeria’s recent disappointments in international football.
He also expressed concern over what he described as inadequate publicity and official recognition of the team’s achievement.
The Flamingos made history on Saturday, November 7, by becoming the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final played in Rabat, Morocco.
Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 39th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the lead shortly after the restart. Japan pulled one back in the 80th minute, but the Nigerian side held on to secure the historic victory.
The triumph followed an impressive campaign in which the Flamingos recovered from an opening defeat to Poland before recording victories over several opponents, including defending champions North Korea, Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil.
The Senate also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for their contributions to the team’s success.
Furthermore, lawmakers urged the NFF to keep the players together and continue developing their talents to prepare them for future international competitions, particularly at the senior level.
The Senate’s announcement adds to growing calls for the Federal Government and other stakeholders to adequately reward the young footballers for bringing international recognition to Nigeria.