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| Super Falcons players and officials pose with the World Cup trophy |
Football
Acting
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has
assured that the Federation will provide even more support and encouragement
for the Super Falcons as they enter the final stages of preparation for this
year’s FIFA World Cup finals in France.
Speaking
on Thursday when the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy made a stop-over in Nigeria
on its tour of 24 countries qualified to participate at the championship in
France, Akinwunmi acknowledged that the women’s game has brought so much honour
to Nigeria, and therefore deserves all the encouragement and push necessary to
thrive.
“The The government of Nigeria has been giving so much support to the various National
Teams, including the Super Falcons. On our part at the NFF, we will ensure that
the girls receive even stronger support before the FIFA World Cup in France,”
he said at a ceremony inside the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
Earlier,
at the office of the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports, the Acting Permanent
Secretary, Mrs Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi traced the evolution of women football in
Nigeria and stated that “the Government of Nigeria recognizes the pivotal role
of football in unifying peoples across various physical and mental divides, and
creating joy, love and passion among the youth. Football is a remarkable
boundary-eliminator and works wonders in drastically reducing insecurity while
fostering peace and tranquillity within and across jurisdictions all over the
world.”
Sarai
Bareman (chief women’s football officer) who led the FIFA team, thanked the government of Nigeria for its continued support for football, especially the
women’s game. Also with her were Nicole Fisch (lead for women’s football
project), Vanessa Marques (lead for marketing project) and FIFA legend Osaze
Peter Odemwingie – former Nigeria international.
The
gold –plated trophy, nearly 5 kilograms in weight, was unveiled by Odemwingie,
who featured in four Africa Cup of Nations finals for Nigeria and played at two
FIFA World Cup finals.
Also
at the Minister’s office were NFF Executive Committee members Emmanuel Ibah and
Aisha Falode, Brigadier-General Emico Eruwa (President, Paralympics Committee
of Nigeria), Mrs Tayo Oreweme (Director FEAD), Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme (NFF deputy
secretary-general), Mr. Bola Oyeyode (NFF Director of Competitions), Mr. Bitrus
Bewarang (NFF Director of Technical), Mr. Ademola Olajire (Director of
Communications), Ms Ruth David (Head of Women’s Football), directors from the
Ministry, Alh. Fika Adamu, Dr. Paul Onyeudo, Architect Mohammed Gambo, Mrs
Blessing Lere-Adams and Dr. Toyin Aluko, Mr. Emmanuel Nwaeri from the Nigeria
Olympic Committee, as well as other directors from the NFF, Rafiu Yusuf, Dr.
Robinson Okosun and Sunday Okayi.
At
the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, the train was joined by players, technical team and
backroom staff of the Super Falcons led by Head Coach Thomas Dennerby, a number
of pupils from a secondary school in Abuja and other stakeholders.
The
Hilton part of the tour also witnessed two video documentaries.
In
her presentation, Bareman disclosed that six of the group phase matches at the
8th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in France has been sold out, including that
pitching Nigeria’s Super Falcons against France at the Roazhon Park in Rennes
on 17th June.
She
also revealed that FIFA is targeting one billion television viewers for the
showpiece taking place 7th June – 7th July, and that most of the tickets have
so far been taken up by nationals of host nation France, the United States, The
Netherlands and United Kingdom. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be
deployed at a women’s tournament for the first time in France, where five
debutants (Jamaica, Chile, Scotland, Thailand and South Africa) will be on
show.
Falode,
on her part, also traced the evolution of the women’s game in the country,
eulogizing the Class of 1999 that reached the quarter finals in the USA, while
challenging the present squad to soar even higher in France having received the
best preparation afforded any Super Falcons’ team before a World Cup
championship.
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