For every young footballer who dreams of wearing the national jersey, there is often a parent whose sacrifices, encouragement and unwavering belief help make that dream possible.

For Yomi Salu, watching his son, Mayowa Salu, represent Nigeria as part of the Future Eagles at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan was more than a sporting experience. It was a moment of pride, fulfilment and hope for the future.

Speaking during an interview in Azerbaijan, Yomi described his son’s participation as an extraordinary opportunity, not only for Mayowa but for all the young players selected to represent Nigeria.

“It’s a very good experience, playing for the Future Eagles and representing Nigeria. That’s a very amazing opportunity for all the boys,” he said.

Yomi was particularly impressed with the team’s performances, highlighting their unbeaten run through their first five matches and the quality of football they displayed.

According to him, the young players demonstrated good passing, impressive teamwork and a solid football foundation that could become even stronger with continued development and opportunities to play together.

His assessment points to an important consideration for Nigerian football, talent identification is only the beginning. Consistent coaching, competitive exposure and long-term investment are essential to transforming promising youngsters into future international stars.

Beyond his son’s participation, Yomi also applauded FIFA for the organisation of the inaugural tournament, describing the event as impressive in its infrastructure, facilities, location and overall planning.

He expressed optimism that the competition would continue to evolve with future editions, providing an increasingly valuable platform for young footballers from different countries.

Mayowa and his teammates, Azerbaijan represents an important chapter in their football journey. For their parents, it is an opportunity to witness dreams taking shape.

Nigerian football, the bigger challenge begins after the tournament: ensuring that the promise demonstrated by these young players is not lost when the final whistle blows.

The Future Eagles have had their opportunity to shine. Now, the responsibility rests with the football authorities to nurture that promise into a future national treasure.