Sports
Nigeria Football will steadily climb back to the top – Gusau
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has once more assured that the present NFF administration is working assiduously to redirect the Nigeria game to a path to greater glory, while also building structures that will ensure improvement and sustainability of the various development efforts being embarked upon.
Gusau made this remark in Lagos on Friday, on a visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive of GIC Motor (distributors of GAC Motors in Nigeria), Chief Diane Chan. GAC is the automobile partner of the NFF.
“The present NFF administration will continue to fashion and implement policies that are targeted at re-engineering the Nigeria game, in order to pull it back to the top. The process requires a lot of hard work and focus and we are determined to do the needful.
“As we have enunciated now and again, the vision of this new team is to build our football from the grassroots with vigour and with a sense of purpose. We are putting the nuts and bolts together and very soon the drive will commence powerfully.
“Our National Teams have been up there before and will be back at the very top sooner than later. This year, the Super Eagles, Super Falcons, Olympic Eagles, Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets have major tournaments at hand, and we are focused on preparing the teams adequately to get good results from their various engagements and tournaments.”
The Flying Eagles will participate in the Africa U20 Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt 18th February – 12th March, while the Super Eagles have two crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Guinea Bissau (home and away) in the month of March. A place in top four in Egypt will land the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Indonesia.
Also in March, the U23 Boys (Olympic Eagles) have a final qualifying fixture against Guinea for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco later in the year, and at which Africa’s flag bearers at next year’s Olympic Men’s Football Tournament will emerge.
In April, the Golden Eaglets will participate in the Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria, with a place in the top four ensuring that the five-time champions will be part of the FIFA U17 World Cup finals in Peru later in the year.
The Super Falcons, heading to the Four-Nation Revelation Cup Tournament in Mexico next month, will be part of the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup ever, when 32 teams converge for a mammoth festival in Australia and New Zealand 20th July – 20th August this year.
Sports
Flamingos’ Historic World Cup Feat Draws Musawa’s Commendation
Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has congratulated Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, following their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat to claim Nigeria’s first title in the competition and make history as the first African nation to win the tournament.
Awawu Bashiru gave Nigeria the lead in the 39th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku extended the advantage two minutes after the restart. Japan’s Fuki Ito reduced the deficit in the 80th minute, but the Nigerian girls held on to secure a memorable victory.
In a congratulatory message was signed by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Nneka Ikem Anibeze on Sunday in Abuja, Musawa described the achievement as a defining moment for Nigeria and a significant milestone for African women’s football, attributing the success to the team’s resilience, talent and determination.
“This is more than a trophy. It is a story of young Nigerian girls who refused to give up, who rose after defeat, and who carried the hopes of a continent to the top of the world,” she said.
The Minister noted that the Flamingos had broken new ground by becoming the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Nigeria also became the first African country to win both the men’s and women’s U-17 World Cup titles.
The team further achieved another remarkable feat by becoming the first side in the competition’s history to lose its opening match and eventually emerge champions.
Despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Poland in their opening group-stage encounter, the Flamingos recovered impressively, recording six consecutive victories to lift the trophy.
Musawa particularly praised Umejiaku, who claimed the tournament’s Golden Ball award as the best player, and Bashiru for their crucial contributions in the final.
She also commended the entire squad for their discipline, teamwork and determination throughout the competition.
According to her, the victory demonstrates the creativity, courage and excellence of Nigerian youths on the global stage.
The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to celebrating and promoting the achievements and inspiring stories of young Nigerians who continue to bring honour to the country.
“Our girls have shown the world what Nigeria is made of. We celebrate you today, and we will continue to stand with you,” she added.
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