Women’s football advocate and grassroots talent scout, Moses Nagogo Bako, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to host Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s national team at the Presidential Villa in recognition of their historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph.
Bako urged the President to extend the invitation to the players, their coaches, technical crew and backroom staff, saying the entire team deserves national recognition for bringing pride and honour to the country.
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He also called on the Federal Government not to allow celebrations of the latest champions to overshadow the achievements of Nigeria’s 2022 U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, who won bronze at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.
According to him, the bronze medallists equally deserve to be celebrated for their contribution to Nigerian football.
“Mr. President, please host these champions. Celebrate the girls, their coaches, and everyone who contributed to this historic achievement. But as we celebrate today’s champions, let us also remember the 2022 team that won bronze. They, too, deserve to be celebrated,” Bako said.
Bako’s role in grassroots women’s football
Bako, who has earned recognition for his involvement in grassroots women’s football and talent discovery, regularly follows competitions and platforms where emerging female footballers showcase their abilities.
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He is a familiar presence at the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship, Nationwide League and grassroots competitions, including HerGame National, Judith Chime Championship, WAFA, NAWFA, SEWFA and SOSAWFA tournaments.
Through his consistent involvement in these competitions, Bako has advocated greater opportunities for young female footballers and the development of talents capable of representing Nigeria at the highest level.
He believes celebrating the national team should go beyond recognising the players who win major tournaments to appreciating the coaches, scouts, technical officials and grassroots stakeholders who contribute to the growth of women’s football.
Why Nigeria must remember the 2022 Flamingos
Bako stressed that recognising the achievements of both the current champions and the 2022 bronze medallists would send a positive message to young footballers across the country.
He said celebrating past and present national team successes would encourage emerging players, strengthen confidence in women’s football and demonstrate that Nigeria values its sporting heroes and heroines.
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The advocate also emphasised the importance of sustained investment in the women’s game, particularly at grassroots level, where many future national team players begin their football journeys.
He concluded that Nigeria must not only celebrate its latest winners but also honour those who paved the way and continue to support the discovery and development of future stars.
His appeal comes as attention remains on the achievements of Nigeria’s young female footballers and the need to translate international success into stronger support for women’s football development.
Bako’s message is clear: celebrate the champions, honour the bronze medallists and recognise everyone helping to discover tomorrow’s Super Falcons stars.
