Akpabio hands Flamingos N100m reward, links World Cup triumph to APC’s 2027 victory

On Wednesday, Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, greeted the country's U-17 women's national soccer team, known as the Flamingos, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The team had just returned from winning the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, marking a historic victory for Nigeria and African women's soccer. Accompanying the First Lady were Nana Shettima, wife of Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and other government officials.

At the reception, Mrs. Tinubu presented bouquets of flowers to the players, celebrating their remarkable achievement. The Flamingos secured their triumph by defeating Japan 2-1 in the final match, becoming the first African team to win the prestigious tournament. In the game, Awawu Bashiru scored the opening goal in the 39th minute, and Oluebube Umejiaku added a second goal shortly after the restart. Japan managed to score a late goal, but Nigeria held on to claim their historic win.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier congratulated the team, highlighting their courage, discipline, and determination. He praised the young players for their outstanding performance, stating that they had written their names in gold. The First Lady echoed these sentiments, describing the victory as a demonstration of resilience, teamwork, and commitment. She emphasized that Nigeria once again stood as the toast of the world through the Flamingos' success.