NFF Hails Flamingos’ Historic Triumph, Urges Players To Target Super Falcons
Ikpeme Says Nigeria’s U-17 World Champions Have Elevated Country’s Global Football Status
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has hailed the Flamingos for their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, describing the achievement as magnificent as the victorious team returned to Nigeria on Monday.
The Federation’s Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, MON, and members of the NFF Management visited the world champions at their Abuja hotel on Monday afternoon, commending the players for their hard work, discipline and dedication throughout the tournament.
Ikpeme said the team had earned the appreciation of the Federal Government and Nigerians for placing the country in a new position on the global football map.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s historic distinction as the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the first to claim both the boys’ and girls’ U-17 FIFA World Cup titles.
‘There is no way the history of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be written without your names. The Federal Government is happy and the generality of Nigerians are happy about this accomplishment,’ Ikpeme said.
He urged the players to build on their achievement and continue improving their game to reach greater heights.
The NFF chief also revealed that FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe had separately commended the Flamingos, insisting that their world title was the product of superior performances rather than luck.
‘The FIFA President and the CAF President told me at different times that you all have done well and that your triumph was no fluke. You won it as a result of better performance,’ he said.
Ikpeme recalled how the Flamingos recovered from their opening-match defeat to win their subsequent six matches and lift the trophy, praising their dominance over their opponents from the second game onwards.
He further encouraged the players to address areas of weakness and remain ambitious as they pursue professional football careers.
The Acting General Secretary expressed the NFF’s desire to see the players progress through the U-20 national team before eventually earning places in the senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons.
‘As a federation, we want to see that you progress from the U-17 level to the U-20 and then the Super Falcons,’ he added.
