Yesterday, Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos clinched the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup hosted by Morocco, making it an African hosted and won competition. The team would also be the first African team to win that competition since it was started in 2008. Added to that, Flamingos are Africa’s first Women’s team to ever win a World Cup across all levels.
What makes me more glad is that this team is young. I doubt if the complaint of age cheating would emanate from this team. Apart from the physical looks, I see that these girls are maintaining exactly the outlook that we would often see among Nigerian girls their age. Same low haircut, only a few of them are wearing African braids, what we locally call Didi. This is the Nigerian standard across that age grade. That’s what you see among their peers who are pursuing other careers. That’s the Nigerian public school standard, excesses are not permitted.
More importantly, I would love that this team and its coach be transitioned to the next age grade, well maybe with a few additions. The team spirit and momentum that’s enacted is good. It should be maintained.
I watched Journalist Hangout earlier in the day, where Citizen Jones Usen recalled that late Brazilian legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento aka. Pele had advised Nigerian officials that the country had just obtained its France 1998 World Cup team from the Atlanta 1996 Gold medal winning team. Pele informed that the country only needed to maintain the team and it could become a world beater. But do we ever listen in Nigeria?
#YeahMomentsWithYO!