Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, has congratulated Akwa Ibom-born footballer Mary Dunstan Akpan and Nigeria’s U-17 girls’s nationwide crew, the Flamingos, following their historic victory on the 2026 FIFA U-17 Ladies’s World Cup in Morocco.
The Flamingos made historical past by changing into the primary African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Ladies’s World Cup after defeating Japan 2-1 within the remaining.
Reacting to the historic victory, Governor Eno stated he acquired the information with nice pleasure, describing it as a second of immense satisfaction for Nigeria. He added that his pleasure was even larger when he learnt that Mary Dunstan Akpan, one of many gamers who contributed to the historic triumph, was a daughter of Akwa Ibom State.
The Governor stated the sensation was significantly particular when Mary took to social media with a video proudly figuring out along with her Akwa Ibom roots. He described the gesture as touching and a outstanding expression of affection for her house state, particularly at a time when she was celebrating one of many largest moments of her younger soccer profession.
“I used to be already excited and proud after I heard that Nigeria had made historical past by successful the FIFA U-17 Ladies’s World Cup. However after I learnt that Mary Dunstan Akpan, one of many gamers in that historic squad, is our daughter from Akwa Ibom, my pleasure knew no bounds. It turned much more thrilling after I watched her video on-line, proudly figuring out along with her roots. That gesture touched me deeply. Even in her second of glory on the world stage, she remembered house, and which means a lot to us as a folks,” the Governor stated.
Mary, who hails from Ikot Abasi Native Authorities Space, performed an necessary position in Nigeria’s profitable marketing campaign. She scored Nigeria’s second purpose within the 2-1 Spherical of 16 victory over Mexico, serving to the crew progress to the quarter-finals.
In recognition of the achievement, Governor Eno has directed the Commissioner for Sports activities Improvement Elder Paul Bassey, to organise a reception in honour of Mary Dunstan Akpan and two different Akwa Ibom indigenes who have been a part of the Flamingos’ delegation in Morocco.
The 2 officers are Arit Robert Effiong, who served as Group Secretary, and Charity Etim Godwin, the crew’s Physiotherapist.
The Governor stated his administration would proceed to rejoice the achievements of Akwa Ibom individuals who distinguish themselves of their numerous fields.
“This administration will proceed to rejoice with our folks. We’re comfortable, we’re proud, and we will probably be ready to obtain our heroes. Mary has made us proud, and we would like her and the opposite members of the delegation to know that Akwa Ibom State celebrates them,” he stated.
Governor Eno additionally congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the historic achievement was one other supply of nationwide satisfaction because the Federal Authorities’s reforms start to yield outcomes.
He prolonged his congratulations to the Nationwide Sports activities Fee (NSC), the Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF), the technical crew and your entire Flamingos squad for his or her willpower, exhausting work and dedication all through the competitors.
The Governor described the victory as a serious milestone for Nigerian and African girls’s soccer, expressing hope that Mary’s success would encourage extra younger women in Akwa Ibom State to pursue their goals in sports activities.
