Flamingos Reach Festival Final as Golden Eaglets Fall to Ogun

Nigeria’s U17 women’s team, the Flamingos, have secured a place in the final of the 22nd National Sports Festival following a narrow 1–0 win over Team Ogun. The decisive moment came late in the game when Shakirat Moshood calmly converted a penalty, sending the 2022 World Cup bronze medallists through to the gold medal match.

They will now face Team Delta, who earlier swept aside Team Osun 4–1 in the first semi-final. The women’s final will be played on Tuesday at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta.

In contrast, the men’s national U17 side, the Golden Eaglets, were eliminated from the gold medal race after a 2–1 loss to hosts Team Ogun in their semi-final in Ikenne-Remo. Team Kwara edged out Team Kaduna 1–0 in the other semi-final to advance to the final.

Both third-place matches will take place at the Remo Stars Stadium, while the finals of the male and female categories will be hosted at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex.

The participation of both teams in the tournament is part of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative by the National Sports Commission, aimed at giving national youth sides more competitive exposure.

Editorial

What a compelling tale of contrast for Nigeria’s U17 teams at the National Sports Festival. The Flamingos continue to ride the momentum from their World Cup bronze success, while the Golden Eaglets are left to reflect on what might have been.

The Flamingos’ late victory, led by the poised Shakirat Moshood, is testament to their resilience and growing maturity. A spot in the final is well-earned and richly deserved. These girls play with intent, with unity, and with a belief that belies their age. Their continued excellence at tournaments like this bodes well for Nigeria’s footballing future particularly in the women’s game, where consistency and preparation often lag behind talent.

On the flip side, the Eaglets’ failure to reach the final will sting. There’s no shame in losing to a strong Team Ogun, especially away from home, but this group will know that expectations are always high when you wear the green and white. Yet, setbacks like these can be just as instructive as victories. It’s a reminder that development isn’t linear. There’s a process, and tournaments like this are designed to test more than skill—they test heart and maturity under pressure.

The Invited Junior Athletes initiative deserves credit. It offers these young players a unique opportunity to compete outside traditional age-grade tournaments, helping them mature faster. This kind of exposure is invaluable, and the experience they gain—even in defeat—will serve them well.

We look forward to the final, not just to see who wins, but to witness young Nigerian talent thrive in a space built just for them.

Did You Know?

1. The Flamingos became the first Nigerian women’s team to win a FIFA World Cup medal when they clinched bronze in 2022.
2. Shakirat Moshood, the Flamingos’ penalty scorer, has been part of Nigeria’s youth football pipeline since age 14.
3. The MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta is named after the late Chief Moshood Abiola, a prominent Nigerian philanthropist and sports enthusiast.
4. The Golden Eaglets have won the FIFA U17 World Cup a record five times—more than any other nation.
5. The Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) programme was introduced to give national youth teams regular domestic competition experience beyond international tournaments.