A vibrant youngster in the Nigerian under-17 women’s national team, Flamingos, Muinat Rotimi has disclosed that she and her colleagues will be banking on what she referred to as ‘100% character’ to clinch the female football gold medal at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
Sports247 gathered that the Flamingos, playing under the banner of Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) at Gateway Games 2025, will tango Delta State in the mainbowl of MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta in Tuesday’s final of the women’s football event and Rotimi is already thinking of having a glittering gold medal dangle down her chest.
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This comes after Coach Bankole Olowookere’s side edged aside hosts Ogun State 1-0, courtesy of a late penalty kick, and Rotimi explained that it was due to the great amount of character that is radiating among all players in the Flamingos.
She further thanked her personal coach as well as the national team’s handler for making the final ticket possible, an achievement that she admitted made her to be deeply excited.
Rotimi added, “I feel so excited. I am so happy for myself and the team. I am also happy for making my coach proud, because he has always been there for me.
I also thank the national team technical adviser, Coach Bankole Olowookere.
“He has been a good coach and a father to everyone of us. He always tells us, ‘Whether you are playing well or not, your good character is what matters most.’ What made us win this match was our good character.”
She then turned her focus on Tuesday’s clash with Delta State, which she admitted will be a tough nut to crack, but reckoned further that the team’s winning mentality and their determination to always play until the final whistle will see them through to victory in The Rock City.
“We know that we must never give up but play to the end of the whistle. So, that was what gave us the late winning goal in the semi-final, and we are not giving up until it’s over in the final.
“The next stage is the final, and we are making sure that we will get the gold medal. Our character is 100%, and I believe, with that, we will get the gold medal,” Rotimi enthused.
