Eniola Abiola Atanda, Principal Assistant to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, has tipped Nigeria’s Flamingos to reach the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, expressing confidence ahead of their quarter-final clash against Venezuela, Sports247.ng reports.
Atanda, who watched Nigeria’s thrilling 2-1 victory over Mexico from the stands in Morocco, believes the youngsters possess the unity, determination and fighting spirit required to challenge for the trophy.
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“I already see these girls in the final. What I have witnessed here in Morocco is something special. It has been a long time since I saw this level of unity and fighting spirit in our national teams,” he said.
“However, we must not underrate Venezuela. Every opponent deserves respect, and the girls must approach the next game without complacency. If they maintain this spirit, I believe they can go all the way.”
Atanda also praised Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye (Zulu), Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, for his fatherly leadership and encouragement of young athletes.
He particularly highlighted Adeboye’s visit to the Flamingos’ dressing room, where he motivated the players and presented cash rewards to appreciate their efforts.
“Hon. Adeboye has always been a true father to everyone around him. Seeing him enter the dressing room, encourage these girls and reward them financially shows how much he cares about their success.
“It is not just about money. Sometimes, these young players need to know that people appreciate their sacrifices and believe in their dreams.”
Looking beyond the tournament, Atanda predicted a promising future for Nigerian women’s football.
“These girls are young, but imagine them progressing from the Flamingos to the Falconets and eventually the Super Falcons. I see a generation capable of dominating world football.”
He urged the players to remain focused against Venezuela, stressing that discipline, collective determination and confidence would be essential to keeping Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions alive.
