Former Super Eagles captain and head coach Sunday Oliseh has celebrated Nigeria’s historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph, declaring that the Flamingos’ remarkable achievement has proved that the country still possesses exceptional football talent, while warning the Nigeria Football Federation against restricting the development of the victorious youngsters, Sports247.ng reports.

Oliseh expressed particular satisfaction that many members of the World Cup-winning squad emerged from Nigeria’s domestic football system, describing their success as a powerful response to those who have repeatedly questioned the quality of home-based players.

The former Nigerian international insisted that the Flamingos’ achievement must become a turning point for grassroots football development rather than merely another moment of national celebration.

“Those who say, ‘Sunday, they always shout home-based, home-based.’ No, no, no. See them now, these ones are home-based. So we still get quality. Our country is not dead,” Oliseh declared.

The former Borussia Dortmund and Juventus midfielder stressed that the players’ achievement should receive sustained publicity to inspire other talented youngsters across the country.

“The multiplier effect now is like, it has to be publicised. For those who are following, let’s let them know what these girls have done. They’ve shown talent,” he explained.

However, Oliseh warned that Nigeria must avoid making the mistake of concentrating exclusively on the victorious squad without creating opportunities for other promising players.

According to him, keeping the World Cup winners together is important, but the NFF must simultaneously strengthen the team by introducing fresh talents.

“You can’t say, ‘Let’s keep them together.’ No. You have to try to keep them together, but you have to now integrate more, more,” he stated.

“If you keep them together, you create an elitist group. Keep them together, but you have to add more.”

Oliseh believes this approach would allow the achievements and experience of the World Cup champions to positively influence other emerging players, creating a stronger foundation for Nigeria’s future women’s national teams.

The former Super Eagles captain also emphasised that developing a successful football structure should involve more than celebrating one generation of players.

For Oliseh, the challenge is ensuring that Nigeria builds on the Flamingos’ achievement by identifying additional talents and creating a pathway for their progression through the national-team system.

Nigeria defeated Japan 2-1 in the final in Morocco, becoming the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

While Nigerians continue celebrating the historic achievement, Oliseh’s message to football administrators is unmistakable: preserve the winning foundation, open the door to new talents and ensure that the Flamingos’ success becomes the beginning of something even greater.

The Federal Government has funded the accrued pension rights of enrolled federal workers who have yet to retire through December 2029, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) has said, reversing a previous 21-month funding backlog.

PenCom Director-General Omolola Oloworaran disclosed this on Wednesday at the 2026 Pension Correspondents Association of Nigeria Conference in Abuja, saying the government has moved from a 21-month arrears position to a 41-month funding surplus.

Ms Oloworaran, represented by PenCom’s head of corporate communications, Ibrahim Buwai, said the development means accrued pension rights for enrolled federal employees have been funded ahead of their retirement.

“We are moving from a position where our full pension rights were 21 months in arrears to where we are today, 41 months in surplus. And 41 months in surplus means that federal government employees who have not yet retired and who have enrolled have had their accrued pension rights paid up to December 2029,” she said.

Ms Oloworaran also said delays in the payment of retirement benefits have largely been eliminated, with benefits now processed within 48 hours of retirement.

“The issue of delays in the payment of pensions has now become history, and now pensions are being paid within a maximum of 48 hours from retirement,” she said.

The 48-hour processing timeline applies to retirement benefits under the arrangements described by PenCom. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every pension-related payment or outstanding liability across the country is settled within that period.

The PenCom boss also highlighted the launch of the PenCare healthcare programme and the N52,500 minimum pension guarantee by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported the inauguration of the two initiatives, which are intended to provide additional protection for retirees, particularly those with low pension income and limited resources to meet medical expenses.

According to Ms Oloworaran, PenCare would help reduce pensioners’ healthcare expenses, allowing them to spend more of their monthly income on other needs.

She said pension operators and PenCom fund the programme, with an independent board of trustees chaired by the commission’s pioneer director-general, Muhammad Ahmad.

On the minimum pension guarantee, she said eligible retirees receiving below N52,500 monthly will have their pensions increased to the threshold, adding that some beneficiaries received payment alerts during Tuesday’s launch.

The President of the Pension Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Nana Musa, urged journalists to strengthen accountability and public understanding of pension reforms through accurate reporting.

Ms Musa said pension reporting should help Nigerians understand the reforms and their implications for contributors and retirees.

Ms Oloworaran further disclosed that the Federal Government has approved additional exit benefits equivalent to 100 per cent of terminal emoluments for eligible retirees, effective 1 January 2026.

“The Federal Government has just approved the payment of 100 per cent of terminal emoluments as additional exit benefits,” she said.

She added that eligible retirees who left service in 2026 and submitted the required documents have received payment.

The development comes amid demands by pensioners for improved retirement benefits and wider coverage of additional payments to those who retired before the new approval.