Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, have received a N100 million donation from the Senate following their historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the donation during plenary on Tuesday, as lawmakers celebrated the young players for bringing glory to Nigeria and Africa.
The donation followed a motion moved by Senator Abdul Ningi (ADC, Bauchi Central), who described the Flamingos’ achievement as historic, noting that the girls had accomplished what several other Nigerian national teams had struggled to achieve.
Ningi lamented that the team had not received sufficient publicity and recognition despite their remarkable performance. He also expressed concern over what he described as the inadequate reception and official recognition given to the players upon their return to Nigeria.
Seconding the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) praised the Flamingos for defeating Japan in the final, describing their victory as proof of the talent and determination of Nigerian youths.
Oshiomhole urged Nigerians to celebrate the country’s achievements rather than concentrate solely on its challenges.
He also appealed to the Senate leadership to support the players financially, particularly in meeting their educational needs while pursuing their football careers.
Adopting the motion, the Senate congratulated President Bola Tinubu on his administration’s support for sports development, Nigerians on the historic victory and the National Sports Commission, particularly its chairman, Shehu Dikko.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to adequately reward the players for their outstanding performance.
Speaking after the adoption, Akpabio said the Flamingos deserved national recognition for defeating established football nations, including Brazil and Japan, on their way to lifting the trophy.
He called on the Federal Government to provide adequate rewards for the players and urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep the team together and invest in their development for future competitions.
Akpabio also appealed to wealthy Nigerians and sports enthusiasts to support the young footballers and encourage more children to take up sporting activities.
He said the N100 million donation from the National Assembly was intended to recognise the girls’ achievement and motivate them to continue making the country proud.
The Senate President congratulated the players, the Senate Committee on Sports and Nigerians on the historic feat.
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