The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has described the remarkable achievements of Nigeria’s young athletes at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco and the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games as a golden weekend for Nigerian sports, following a series of historic performances on the global stage.
Nigeria’s Flamingos made history by becoming the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, while the country’s athletics contingent added to the celebrations on Sunday as Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo and Gift Bright claimed gold medals in the women’s and men’s 100m events respectively at the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
The double sprint gold further elevated an extraordinary weekend for Nigerian sports, with the two athletes setting new milestones in Youth Olympic Games history.
Bright became the first Nigerian to win the men’s 100m title, while Nwankwo emerged as only the third Nigerian to claim gold in the women’s event.
Reacting to the achievements, Hon. Olopade said the victories reflected the growing impact of deliberate investment in youth development and the reforms being implemented by the Commission under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Today, our young athletes have reminded the world of the greatness of Nigeria. When the right structures are put in place and talent is given the support it deserves, Nigerians can excel at the highest level. To have the Flamingos win the World Cup and our athletes secure two Youth Olympic gold medals within the same weekend is truly remarkable,” he said.
The DG said he and the Commission’s Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, were particularly encouraged by the results, describing them as evidence that the Renewed Hope policies and initiatives in sports were beginning to deliver tangible outcomes.
“Mallam Shehu Dikko and I are deeply delighted by these achievements. With the full support of Mr President, we have been deliberate about repositioning Nigerian sports, strengthening our development pathways and creating opportunities for young athletes. These results show that the work is beginning to yield the desired dividends,” Hon. Olopade added.
He stressed, however, that the achievements would serve as motivation for the Commission to intensify its efforts rather than a reason to become complacent.
“Our ambition goes beyond celebrating medals and trophies. We are building a system that will consistently discover, nurture and prepare young Nigerians to compete and win at the highest level. These victories will inspire us to do more because, ultimately, the goal is to build lasting legacies for Nigerian sports,” he said.
Hon. Olopade reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to sustained investment in youth sports, improved grassroots development and the creation of more domestic and international platforms through which emerging talents can develop and showcase their abilities.
The performances of the Flamingos, Nwankwo and Bright have provided Nigeria with a memorable chapter in its sporting history, reinforcing the importance of youth development in the country’s pursuit of sustained success on the international stage.
