The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday formally redeemed the National Assembly’s ₦100 million cash reward to Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, in honour of their historic victory at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Presenting the cash reward during an official reception for the world champions at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, Senator Akpabio commended the team for bringing global prestige to Nigeria and restoring national pride.
Speaking at the event, the Senate President noted that the timing of the Flamingos’ triumph ahead of the 2027 general election serves as a positive omen for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“Perhaps, there is a special significance in the timing of your victory, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election,” Senator Akpabio stated. “You brought this World Cup to us at this time and we believe we have won the next election. For the President to receive you and welcome you in this manner means he will also receive a bigger trophy of re-election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
While confirming the National Assembly’s ₦100 million disbursement to the squad, Senator Akpabio also lauded President Tinubu’s separate commitment of ₦100 million in government bonds for each player, describing the initiative as a forward looking investment that will guarantee long term financial stability for the young athletes.
Highlighting the team’s remarkable tournament run, recovering from an opening match defeat to secure six consecutive victories, the Senate President praised the players for embodying the resilience, grit, and determination required to overcome national challenges. He observed that their triumph had rekindled enthusiasm among football-loving Nigerians following the country’s recent absences from major senior global tournaments.
Looking toward the future of Nigerian sports, Senator Akpabio charged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the National Sports Commission (NSC), and relevant stakeholders to keep the victorious squad intact and provide them with continuous technical, medical, and educational backing. He cautioned against allowing the team to disband after the celebrations, emphasizing the need for a structured transition into the senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons.
Furthermore, he called on sports administrators to establish additional grassroots football academies nationwide to systematically discover and nurture young talent for international competitions.
Earlier during the proceedings, the Senate leadership lauded the technical crew and players for elevating Nigeria’s standing in global sports. In response, representatives of the players and officials expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu, the National Assembly, sports authorities, and Nigerians for the honour, reaffirming their dedication to flying the nation’s flag high in future tournaments.
