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Stakeholders urge the NFF to invest in grassroots women’s football, strengthen youth development programmes to ensure the Flamingos’ historic World Cup triumph becomes the foundation for sustained success.
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Coaches, journalists and women’s football advocates call for a clear developmental pathway from the Flamingos to the Falconets and eventually the Super Falcons.
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Stakeholders demand comprehensive rewards for the victorious players and technical crew, including cash incentives, houses, university scholarships, and educational opportunities.
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Sports stakeholders commend Coach Hakeem Busari for guiding Nigeria to its first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title, insisting that the triumph over Japan after an opening defeat to Poland must translate into better league structures.
November 14, (THEWILL) – The Flamingos made history last week by becoming the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup following a 2-1 win over Japan in Morocco.
The triumph represented a remarkable turnaround for Nigeria, whose campaign began with a 2-1 defeat to Poland in the group stage.
The team bounced back with five consecutive victories over the likes of Puerto Rico, reigning champions DPR Korea, Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil before overcoming Japan in the final.
The achievement was particularly significant considering Nigeria’s previous best performance at the competition was a third-place finish in 2022, when the team was led by Bankole Olowookere.
Under Akeem Ishola Busari, who was appointed head coach in April, the Flamingos went a step further by winning the country’s first-ever global women’s football title.
The WILL spoke to sports journalists, coaches, and women’s football enthusiasts about how Nigeria can build on the triumph for sustainable development.
Olajide Royal, President and Chief Executive Officer of Royaltoms Queens, called on the Nigeria Football Federation to invest in grassroots football.
He said: “Nigeria must see this victory as more than just a moment of celebration; it should be a foundation for a stronger future for women’s football in the country.
“The Flamingos have demonstrated that Nigerian girls possess the talent, determination and capacity to compete and succeed at the highest level.
“To build on this achievement, we must invest more in grassroots football, strengthen our youth development programmes, improve scouting networks and provide regular competitive opportunities for young female footballers.
“There must also be a deliberate effort to support academies, schools and community-based football initiatives, because that is where the foundation of sustainable football development begins.
“Most importantly, the Nigeria Football Federation and relevant government institutions must ensure that this success does not become another beautiful story that is celebrated and forgotten.
“We need a structured development pathway that allows these young players to progress into the U-20 team, the Super Falcons and eventually professional football.”
Reacting to how the team should be rewarded, Royal said the government and football authorities must develop a comprehensive reward system that recognises the players’ contributions while securing their future beyond the tournament.
He added: “The Flamingos deserve to be rewarded generously, but the reward must go beyond financial incentives and public celebrations.”
He called for scholarships, educational opportunities and long-term welfare packages for the players and technical crew, adding that attention should also be given to their career progression and professional development.
He added: “First, the players and technical crew should receive meaningful financial rewards, scholarships, educational opportunities and long-term welfare support. Their contracts, career progression and professional development should also receive attention.
“I would particularly love to see these players become ambassadors for grassroots women’s football in Nigeria. Their stories should inspire young girls in our communities, schools and academies to believe that they too can represent Nigeria.”
Similarly, sports journalist Olayinka Olawole called for increased investment in grassroots women’s football, stressing that developing young talents across the country would be crucial to sustaining Nigeria’s success at youth level.
He said: “Investing more in grassroots women’s football across the country, encouraging grassroots teams and opening camps early for various under-age football competitions.”
He also compared the current Flamingos squad with Nigeria’s 2022 team, which finished third at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India, noting that he considered the previous generation more talented despite its failure to reach the final.
Olayinka added: “I do not really see much difference between the two teams, but I must say that the 2022 team was more talented and only lost via penalties in the semi-final. They would or could have also won the World Cup if they didn’t fail in the penalty shootout.”
On the appropriate rewards for the victorious players, Olawale insisted that the team should receive the same level of recognition and incentives given to other Nigerian national teams that have won international honours.
Olayinka concluded: “They should be rewarded like every other national team that won laurels for Nigeria, cash, houses, scholarships, etc.
“Ultimately, the greatest reward we can give the Flamingos is to build a football system that ensures their success is not an isolated achievement but the beginning of a new era for women’s football in Nigeria.”
Women’s football advocate Moses Bako has urged Nigeria to use the historic triumph as an opportunity to strengthen its women’s football development structures rather than treating it as an isolated achievement.
According to him, the transition from the U-17 team to the U-20 side and eventually the Super Falcons must be properly managed to prevent talented players from being lost after their youth football careers.
“Nigeria must see this victory as an opportunity to strengthen women’s football development, not just a moment of celebration.
“We must invest more in grassroots football, school competitions, talent discovery, quality coaching and regular youth tournaments. There must also be a clear pathway for these girls from the U-17 to the U-20 and eventually the Super Falcons,” Bako said.
He added that strengthening football structures would ensure that talents discovered at a young age receive the necessary support and opportunities to develop into established professionals.
“The real success of Morocco 2026 will not just be the trophy we won, but the development structure we build from it.
“I must particularly commend Coach Hakeem Busari for his player management, tactical adjustments and willingness to trust his squad.
“His decisions, including giving Awawu Bashiru a starting opportunity against Brazil, demonstrated the importance of recognising and utilising the strength within the entire squad,” he said.
Bako also stressed that grassroots coaches, scouts, academies and clubs responsible for discovering and developing the players should not be forgotten in the celebrations.
Sports Day Sports Editor Raymond Nwaduba called for the entire Flamingos squad to be promoted to the Falconets, Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, to ensure the players continue their development after their historic achievement.
Nwaduba stressed that the players must remain active through regular competitions while the football authorities continue scouting for additional talents to strengthen the team.
“The entire team has to be promoted to the Falconets but we must keep them active with competitions while we scout for other talents that can add more depth to the team. We have to be intentional about it. This present squad played with passion, determination and hunger,”
He also commended head coach Hakeem Busari for assembling a talented squad within a short period.
Nwaduba added: “Again, we must also commend the coach for doing a great job of putting such a talented squad in a short time. This is because the players have very good techniques and they improve with each game.”
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In his contribution, Chairman of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Ogun State Chapter, and Chairman of Chosen Generation Football Club, Wasimi, Coach Victor Damilola Agbagu, described the Flamingos’ triumph as more than a historic achievement, insisting that it should serve as a blueprint for the future of women’s football in Nigeria.
Agbagu said the team’s ability to recover from their opening defeat to Poland and win six consecutive matches demonstrated the resilience and mentality required to compete successfully at the highest level.
He said: “This victory is not just a trophy; it is a blueprint. The Flamingos have shown the world that Nigeria can win at the highest level, the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, beating Japan 2-1 in the final in Morocco after losing their opening game to Poland and then winning six straight matches. That is resilience,” he said.
He warned against allowing the victorious players to disappear after their U-17 success, urging the NFF to establish a system that would take them from the Flamingos to the Falconets and eventually the Super Falcons.
Agbagu said: “Don’t let these girls disappear. We must create a clear transition/developmental pathway — from Flamingos to Falconets (U-20) to Super Falcons. No more losing our best talents to age fraud confusion, poor welfare, or lack of opportunities.
“If we have 10 more Umejiakus, Adegbuyi and Bashirus waiting in Ogun, Lagos, Imo, Kaduna — we will dominate for years.
“The World Cup win must translate to better league structures, better scouting, and better welfare for the girl-child.
“Morocco must not be a one-off celebration. It must be the start of a golden era for Nigerian women’s football.”
Agbagu also highlighted the contributions of players who did not initially command regular starting positions but eventually became important figures in the team’s historic campaign.
He added: “This team lost their first match to Poland 2-1. In the past, that would have broken us. This team treated every game after that as a final, beating defending champions Korea DPR 3-1, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final, and Japan in the final. That is the champion mentality.”
On the rewards, Agbagu said the players deserved more than public applause, urging the government, NFF, state governments and corporate organisations to provide packages capable of securing their future.
He said: “Yes, cash rewards are good, and I commend the Senate for the N100m donation already announced. The Federal Government, NFF, state governors, and corporate sponsors should also come in.
“Coach Hakeem Busari and his crew built this team. They should be rewarded equally. Those coaches in need of higher coaching courses should be supported to get them while those in need of better appointments should be rewarded too.
“If we reward them well, the next girl in Wasimi, Ibadan, in Abeokuta, in Sokoto will believe that football can change her life. That is how we build the next Flamingos and ultimately the Super Falcons.”
He proposed that every player should receive a full scholarship up to university level, either in Nigeria or abroad, pointing to the United States’ NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA systems as possible opportunities for combining education with football development.
“Every player should get a full scholarship to university level, home or abroad. Football is short, education is forever,”
The coach also recommended house or land allocations and properly structured financial packages for the players and technical crew, stressing that the team deserved national honours such as the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) or Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Naira Rain For The Victorious Flamingos
Following their historic achievement, the Nigerian Senate presented a collective reward of ₦100 million to the team in recognition of their World Cup triumph.
President Bola Tinubu also rewarded each member of the victorious squad with a ₦100 million Federal Government Savings Bond, with the five-year investment designed to secure the financial future of the young players.
The presidential reward was announced by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu during a reception organised for the world champions at the State House in Abuja.
Head coach Hakeem Busari was awarded ₦100 million in cash, while members of the technical crew received ₦50 million each.
With stakeholders highlighting financial rewards, grassroots investment, education, professional development and a clear pathway to the Falconets and Super Falcons, the Flamingos’ historic triumph presents an opportunity for the NFF and government to turn celebrations into lasting progress for women’s football in Nigeria.
