The National Vice Chairman (South East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the APC PCC South East Co-Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, has congratulated Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingoes, on their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The Flamingoes defeated Japan 2-1 in the final played in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday to become the first African nation to win the competition. Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku sealed the victory, making Nigeria the first African country to claim the FIFA U-17 World Cup title in both the men’s and women’s categories.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Arodiogbu described the feat as a proud moment for Nigeria and the entire African continent.

“I heartily congratulate the Flamingoes, their coaches, the Nigeria Football Federation, the National Sports Commission, and all Nigerians on this landmark achievement,” he said. “These young girls have written their names in gold and brought immense honour to our nation.”

Arodiogbu linked the success to the deliberate investment in grassroots sports by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This victory is clear evidence that President Tinubu’s sports development policies, especially the emphasis on grassroots talent discovery, youth empowerment, and adequate support for national teams, are yielding tangible results,” he stated. “When you invest in the foundation, the structure rises. The Flamingoes have shown the world what Nigerian talent can achieve when given the right platform and encouragement.”

He praised the resilience of the team, which recovered from an opening-group defeat to Poland and went on to win six consecutive matches, including victories over defending champions Korea DPR and Brazil, before overcoming Japan in the final.

Arodiogbu also commended Coach Akeem Busari and his technical crew for their tactical discipline and the players for their determination and sportsmanship.

He urged continuous government support for sports development at all levels, noting that such achievements inspire young people across the country and promote national unity and pride.

“As a nation, we must sustain this momentum. The Flamingoes have shown the way. President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda continues to create opportunities for our youths to excel on the global stage, and we must sustain this tempo by re-electing President Tinubu in 2027,” Arodiogbu added.