Flamingos’ Historic Triumph: Omidiran Demands Bigger Investment In Women’s Football
By Our Correspondent
For thousands of young Nigerian girls dreaming of becoming professional footballers, the Flamingos’ historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph is proof that their dreams can become reality. But Federal Character Commission (FCC) Executive Chairman, Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, says Nigeria must do more than celebrate the victory – it must invest in the next generation.
Omidiran has congratulated the Flamingos on their historic achievement in Morocco, describing the triumph as a proud moment for Nigeria and evidence of the talent, determination and potential of young Nigerian girls.
The former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board member said the victory should serve as a turning point for women’s football development, urging football authorities and other stakeholders to establish a sustainable system for identifying, nurturing and supporting young talents.
She praised the players, technical crew, NFF and other stakeholders for their contributions, while commending First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her advocacy for women’s empowerment and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for its leadership in sports development.
“I warmly congratulate our Flamingos on this historic achievement. They have made Nigeria proud and demonstrated once again that our young girls possess the talent, character and determination to excel on the world stage,” she said.
Omidiran, who is also the founder of the Girls Play Sports Initiative and a former member of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee, warned against allowing the achievement to become another fleeting moment of celebration.
She called for a deliberate national investment plan covering grassroots scouting, school competitions, coaching, player welfare, sports science and sporting infrastructure.
According to her, Nigeria must establish a clear development pathway through which talented girls can progress from grassroots football to the Flamingos, Falconets and eventually the Super Falcons.
“We must not wait for another generation of Flamingos to emerge by chance. We need a deliberate system that identifies these talents early, develops them properly, protects them and provides a clear pathway,” she said.
The FCC chairman also emphasised the need to strengthen the domestic women’s league, support football clubs and academies, improve playing facilities and expand grassroots competitions.
She maintained that investment must focus on the entire women’s football ecosystem rather than concentrating only on preparing national teams for international tournaments.
Omidiran further identified the FIFA U-15 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to begin in 2027, as another opportunity for Nigeria to develop its next generation of female football stars.
She urged football authorities to begin preparations early, stressing that the competition should be treated as an opportunity to build a stronger talent pipeline.
The former two-time chairman of the NFF Women’s Football Development Committee said the Flamingos’ success should inspire girls across schools, communities and football academies to pursue their sporting ambitions.
She challenged leaders and stakeholders to ensure that young girls, irrespective of their backgrounds, have access to the opportunities and facilities needed to compete at the highest level.
For Omidiran, the real test of Nigeria’s historic victory will not be the celebrations it generates, but whether the country builds a football development system capable of producing many more world champions.
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