President Bola Tinubu has thrown the full weight of the nation behind Nigeria’s Flamingos, congratulating the U-17 women’s team on their 3-1 semi-final win over Brazil and challenging them to go one step further by beating Japan in the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The President delivered the message through a statement from his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, and he used it to turn a night of celebration into a call for the team to finish the job.
Tinubu described the team’s qualification for the final as a remarkable achievement that has brought immense pride and joy to millions of Nigerians at home and abroad, and he made clear that he sees the result as a moment of national significance rather than a simple sporting success.
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He also praised the coaching crew and everyone whose hard work and support helped the squad reach the first World Cup final in their history, which shows his wish to share the credit across the whole team behind the players.
The President then turned his attention to the match that lies ahead, and he urged the players to stay focused, confident and determined as they prepare to face Japan.
He assured them of the prayers, goodwill and unwavering support of Nigerians, and he told them to approach the final with the same fighting spirit and belief that carried them past Brazil.
He said he has confidence in their ability to make history by winning the coveted world title, a statement that raises the stakes for a group of teenagers who now carry the hopes of an entire country.
Tinubu also called on all Nigerians to rally behind the young ambassadors of the nation, and he argued that their achievements continue to showcase Nigeria’s sporting excellence while inspiring a new generation of girls to pursue their dreams uninhibited.
His words place the Flamingos within a bigger story about opportunity and ambition for young women across the country, and they suggest that the impact of this campaign could reach far beyond the final whistle in Morocco.
The President closed his message with a rallying cry, telling the team that Nigeria is proud of them once again and urging them to go for the trophy, and the line captured the mood of a country that now expects its young players to dream big.
The Flamingos have given Nigeria plenty of reason to share that belief, because they reached the final by beating Brazil with three second-half goals, as Queen Joseph opened the scoring in the 56th minute and Awawu Bashiru added two more in the 71st and 80th minutes before Greise Kelly pulled one back for Brazil in the 89th.
That performance showed the composure and sharp finishing that Tinubu praised, and it gives the team a strong platform for the biggest match of their young careers.
With the President and the nation behind them, the Flamingos now turn their focus to Japan, knowing that victory would deliver the world title that Tinubu has already encouraged them to chase.
