A hint emerged on Wednesday at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco about ongoing reforms for Nigerian football, which were set in motion in August by the National Sports Commission (NSC), Sports247 reports.
While nothing concrete has been said about a formalisation committee that will midwife the expected reforms into reality, the country’s female cadet national team, Flamingos’ coach, Akeem Busari believes his team’s strides will set the ball rolling.
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Busari insinuated as much while speaking in the wake of his team’s 3-1 victory over Brazil in the second semi-final of the ongoing Female Cadet Mundial in Morocco, thereby securing a spot in Saturday’s final, which he tagged ‘a plus for Nigerian football.’
His team’s feat indeed marks a change of narrative from a myriad of recent setbacks that have hit Nigerian football, starting with the Super Eagles’ inability to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, after which the same fate also hit the women’s senior squad, Super Falcons.
The wave of misses spiralled over to the male under-17 and under-20 squads, which both failed to reach the continental level in their respective qualifiers, while the Future Eagles recently lost several matches at the maiden FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival.
With Nigeria now enduring a barren spell in the round leather game, the Flamingos’ successful surge into the final of Morocco 2026 provides a breath of fresh air plus relief for fans, promoters, sponsors, stakeholders and administrators of the round leather game in Africa’s most populous nation.
Busari might have inadvertently referenced this poignant reality in his comments after the historic demolition of Brazil on Wednesday, which the former Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan gaffer cited as a merit for Nigeria’s football image and ‘a plus’ for the nation.
His enthusiasm must have been buoyed by a review of the game by fifa.com, which stated in part: “The Flamingos were a class above their South American counterparts. Akeem Busari’s side recorded 35 shots on goal, compared to seven from Brazil, while the Seleção’s only effort on target came through Greise Kelly’s 89th-minute consolation goal.”
Busari, who started his coaching career with an ill-fated assignment while handling a team named DUFA Football Academy in Ajangbadi area of Ojo, Lagos, was equally reeling lyrical about what he termed an awesome performance by the Flamingos, which he believes is good for Nigeria’s football status as a whole.
“It’s an awesome thing and it’s a great achievement. Reaching the final is a plus for our country. It’s a plus for our football. We are happy, the class are happy. It was a key contest and it wasn’t an easy one.
“We had to show character. (We played) really, really, bravely. We appreciate the class because they are young. We could only encourage them and tell them what they need to do to make the final,” Busari posited.
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