Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has praised the Flamingos after their 2–1 win over Mexico sent Nigeria into the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

Adeboye, who watched the match from the stadium, described the performance as exceptional and said the team can challenge for the title. He praised the players’ confidence, determination and understanding of the game, saying they reflect the potential of Nigerian football, particularly at grassroots level.

Oluebube Umejiaku put the Flamingos ahead in the 40th  minute and Dunstan doubled the lead in the 71st . Delgado pulled one back for Mexico in stoppage time, but the Nigerians held their composure to book a last-eight place.

It was Nigeria’s third successive win, following victories over Puerto Rico and defending champions North Korea. Adeboye singled out the team’s response to the opening loss to Poland as evidence of resilience and growing maturity.

He also commended head coach Akeem Busari and his technical crew for their preparation, tactical guidance and work in keeping the players’ confidence high.

According to Adeboye, the results reinforce the need for sustained investment in grassroots sports, school competitions, coaching development and structured opportunities for young female athletes. He said identifying talented players early and supporting them could help Nigeria find more athletes capable of competing internationally.

He said these issues will be central to the National Grassroots Sports Development Summit, scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Nigeria face Venezuela in the quarter-finals on Sunday. Adeboye urged the Flamingos to stay focused and approach the match with the same determination.