Sports
FORMER Ebonyi Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Cletus Ofoke, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure intense preparations for the Super Falcons ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Super Falcons qualified for the Olympics following a goalless draw with the Bayana Bayana on April 9 after an earlier lone goal win in Abuja, in the first leg of the final qualifier.
The Nigerian ladies thus secured an Olympics ticket for the first time since the Beijing 2008 games and have Brazil, Spain and Japan to contend with in Group C, at the Paris Games.
Ofoke, a football enthusiast, while congratulating the team for the feat, urged the NFF to seriously prepare the team for the Games.
“I want to commend the team for its gallantry in the face of all South African antics, and this shows that it is indeed a power-house in African female football.
“The team is however, in a group of death at the Olympics and can only survive when prepared to compete at the same level with its opponents,” he said.
Maxwell Umahi, the Senior Special Assistant to the Ebonyi Governor on Urban Development also hailed the team for the qualification and urged the NFF to pay adequate attention to its preparations.
“I was impressed with the players tenacity during the match, a trait they have shown consistently since the fabulous World Cup outing in 2023.
“I urge the NFF to accede to the coach’s declaration that an European camping will ensure the team’s success as most of the players are based there,” he said.
Olumma Ani, a Female Football Promoter based in Abakiliki, attributed the qualification to the NFF’s ‘wise decision’ of retaining team’s Coach, Randy Waldrum.
“The coach presented a team that made Nigeria and Africa proud at the last Women’s World Cup, and we led the agitation for his retention in spite of the resentment in several quarters.
“Waldrum has injected defensive solidity and general team organisation in the team and the continuity factor might hunt the Super Eagles after the NFF failed to retain Jose Peseiro,” she said.
Tina Onuoha, a teacher and a football enthusiast, urged Nigerians to pray for the team as it prepares to compete in the tournament’s group of death.
“The players should believe in themselves just as the Zambian female football team did by turning the tide against Morocco after a first leg loss in the final qualifiers,” she said. (NAN)
F.A
April 10, 2024 @ 19:32 GMT
Tags: EbonyiGovt. Official Olympics Super Falcons
