Hon. Frank Ilaboya, the Special Adviser on Grassroots Sports Mobilization to Edo State Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo, has commended Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, following their quarterfinal triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. The Nigerian squad edged past Venezuela with a hard-fought 1-0 victory to book their place in the semifinals, where they will face off against Brazil.
Celebrating the team’s tournament run, Ilaboya stated that the Flamingos’ success highlights the vital necessity of discovering and nurturing young talent at the grassroots level across both boys’ and girls’ categories. The squad’s disciplined performances in Morocco have captivated fans nationwide, highlighted by a standout 3-1 victory over defending champions North Korea during the group stage before their tight knockout battle against Venezuela.
Looking ahead to the semifinal clash with Brazil, Ilaboya expressed firm confidence in the squad’s ability to maintain their winning momentum and compete for the ultimate prize. He reiterated that Edo State’s ongoing focus on grassroots sports mobilization aligns with broader national efforts to build a sustainable pipeline of athletic talent capable of achieving international success.
