Nigerian filmmaker and media executive Seun Oloketuyi has called for sustained investment in women’s football following the Flamingos’ historic victory at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Oloketuyi, in an article titled Nigeria’s Flamingos Win the World: What 2-1 Over Japan Should Finally Change, said the team’s triumph should go beyond celebrations and lead to concrete changes in how women’s football is funded, promoted and developed in the country.
The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Rabat to become the first African team to win the women’s U-17 World Cup. Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring in the 39th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku doubled Nigeria’s lead shortly after the restart. Japan pulled one back through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute, but the Nigerian side held on to secure the title.
Describing the victory as a defining moment for Nigerian football, Oloketuyi argued that the achievement should put an end to the perception of women’s football as an area that requires only encouragement and support rather than serious investment.
He noted that the team had demonstrated its quality by recovering from an opening-day defeat to Poland and going on to record five consecutive victories, including wins over North Korea, Brazil and Japan.
According to him, the Flamingos’ performance showed that female footballers deserve the same level of attention, resources and opportunities given to their male counterparts.
Oloketuyi also raised concerns about what happens to young players after major international tournaments, recalling Nigeria’s bronze-winning Flamingos team at the 2022 edition of the competition.
He urged football authorities to ensure that members of the current squad do not fade from public attention but are properly developed and given opportunities to progress into the Falconets and, eventually, the Super Falcons.
Among the players he highlighted were captain Harmony Chidi, Golden Ball winner Umejiaku, Mary Dunstan, Queen Joseph and Bashiru, stressing the need for a clear development pathway for the young talents.
He further pointed to the number of players in the squad who feature for Nigerian clubs, including FC Robo Queens and Remo Stars Ladies, as evidence of the role local clubs and the Nigeria Women’s Football League play in developing young footballers.
Rather than relying heavily on players discovered abroad, he said, more attention should be given to strengthening the domestic league and rewarding clubs responsible for nurturing emerging talents.
Oloketuyi proposed three major steps following the victory. These include a three-year professional and educational scholarship programme for all 21 players, improved broadcast coverage and sponsorship opportunities for women’s league clubs, and a clear transition plan to ensure the team continues developing together.
He also suggested that head coach Akeem Busari and his technical crew should be retained to guide the players as they progress to the next level.
While acknowledging President Bola Tinubu’s congratulatory message to the team, Oloketuyi maintained that the real value of the victory would be seen in the opportunities and support made available to the players after the tournament.
He argued that Nigeria’s latest achievement should change the way women’s football is viewed, insisting that the Flamingos have earned recognition not merely as the country’s best female youth team, but as a standard for Nigerian football as a whole.
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
