Flamingos Set to Soar at National Sports Festival

Nigeria’s U-17

The women’s football team, the Flamingos, will participate in the 2024 National Sports Festival under a newly established category for Invited Junior Athletes initiated by the National Sports Commission.
PUNCH Sports Extra
reports.

The Indian Junior Athletes (IJA) represents an innovative program launched by the National Sports Council (NSC). Its purpose is to cultivate promising athletic talent from all over the nation in different sports categories. This team, acting akin to a 38th state within the festival framework, plans to participate for the first time during the Gateway 2024 Games set to commence on May 16 in Abeokuta, located in Ogun State.

Over 100 teenagers have been drafted into the IJA team, which will compete in 11 events, including athletics, football, table tennis, wrestling, swimming, badminton, weightlifting, tennis, para athletics, and more. The selection, according to the NSC, was designed to match Nigeria’s areas of competitive strength and serve as a platform for grooming future stars for national and international representation.

PUNCH Sports Extra
Has exclusively learned that the Flamingos have been chosen to represent the IJA in the women’s football competition, where they are anticipated to encounter top-tier teams from throughout the federation.

Viewed as an opportunity for growth and a litmus test of their competitiveness, the team has recently secured a spot in the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup following dominant wins against Algeria and South Africa.

After leaving their camp in Ikenne recently, the Flamingos will regroup in Abuja to integrate with the larger IJA contingent and begin preparing for the Festival.

The Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, who met with the athletes at the training facility on Wednesday, informed the young participants that their participation in this program signals the start of a fresh era for sports in Nigeria. He clarified that the IJA idea was formulated with the endorsement and backing of President Bola Tinubu, aiming over the long term to incorporate younger athletes into advanced competitive routes.

This marks the first occasion that Nigeria has implemented this system,” Olopade stated during his tour. “Those selected to represent the IJA in Abeokuta will be regarded as key figures in a significant historical event. It’s crucial for each candidate to put forth their best effort to secure qualification since they aren’t only speaking for themselves; they’re embodying an innovative concept that might influence the trajectory of Nigerian athletics.

He mentioned that the IJA program is based on the idea that exceptional young athletes, particularly those who have performed well in competitions such as the National Youth Games, should be exposed to more advanced levels of play.

If you have demonstrated your capabilities in the Youth Games, it’s time to challenge yourselves alongside experienced senior athletes,” he stated. “True development only happens through such competitive experiences.

Olopade likewise assured exceptional incentives for athletes who perform outstandingly at the Festival. He disclosed, “Should an athlete from the IJA secure ten gold medals in Ogun State, they will receive a substantial present courtesy of the commission’s chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko.”

The head of the NSC finished by praising the athletes for their commitment, encouraging them to stay concentrated and view this chance as a launchpad.

He mentioned, ‘Your abilities are contributing to the nation’s progress, and I hope this path will elevate all of you to new peaks.’

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.

Syndigate.info

).