The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has congratulated Nigeria’s Flamingos on their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Venezuela in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, expressing confidence that the team can defeat Brazil and book a place in the final.
An 89th-minute penalty converted by Azeezat Oduntan secured Nigeria’s passage into the semi-finals, extending the Flamingos’ impressive run to four consecutive victories following their wins over Puerto Rico, North Korea and Mexico.
Adeboye, who recently travelled to Morocco to lend his personal support to the team, described the victory as another demonstration of the fighting spirit, discipline and determination of Nigeria’s young female footballers.
“These girls are too good! Their fighting spirit is exceptional, and what they have achieved so far deserves national recognition. They have shown that Nigerian football has a very bright future,” Adeboye said.
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s semi-final showdown against Brazil, the presidential aide urged the Flamingos to maintain their confidence and approach the encounter with the belief that they can overcome any opposition.
“Brazil must be ready for Nigeria. We respect their football pedigree, but our girls have demonstrated that they can compete with the best. They are just one victory away from making history, and I strongly believe they can reach the final,” he added.
Adeboye also commended head coach Hakeem Busari and his technical crew for the team’s impressive response following their opening-day defeat to Poland, noting that their subsequent performances have demonstrated resilience, tactical discipline and a strong winning mentality.
He stressed that the Flamingos’ achievements further reinforce the need for sustained investment in grassroots sports development, particularly girls’ football, talent identification and structured youth development programmes.
According to him, the forthcoming National Grassroots Sports Development Summit, scheduled for November 18–19 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, will provide an important platform for strengthening opportunities for emerging Nigerian athletes.
“These girls represent the future we are working to build. We must create an environment where every talented Nigerian child can develop and succeed,” he said.
Adeboye urged Nigerians to continue supporting the Flamingos as they prepare for their semi-final encounter against Brazil, expressing optimism that the team can secure a historic first-ever appearance in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final.
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