NFF felicitates world champions, Flamingos, as heroines return to the country

 

The Nigeria Football Federation has described the feat of the U17 Women National Team, Flamingos, in winning this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup as magnificent, as a joyous nation continues to celebrate the triumph of the young ladies in the Kingdom of Morocco.

 

The Federation’s Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, MON and members of the NFF Management paid a visit to the victorious Flamingos at their Abuja hotel on Monday afternoon, restating the appreciation of the NFF and the entire Nigeria football family for the hard work, discipline and dedication of the young players.

 

Ikpeme fed the team with words of encouragement and motivation, assuring them of the Federal Government and the good people of Nigeria’sappreciation for how they had improved the country’s position on the world football map. He reiterated that not only is Nigeria the first African country to win the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, Nigeria is also the first African country to win male and female titles of the FIFA U17 World Cup.

 

“There is no way the history of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will be written without your names. The Federal Government is happy and the generality of Nigerians are happy about this accomplishment. Our prayer is that as a collective and as individuals, you will continue to improve your game to get even better and take your game to the next level.” 

 

Ikpeme disclosed how FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the President of CAF, Dr Patrice Motsepe commended the Flamingos and spoke so highly of the team. 

 

“The FIFA President and the CAF President told me at different times that you all have done welland that your triumph was no fluke. You won it as a result of better performance. You played your opponents hands down and dominated right from your second match until the end. After narrowly losing your first match, you changed your game for the better and won the following six matches convincingly to lift the trophy. You showed the world the gulf in class between you and the other teams.” 

 

He concluded with a fatherly advice to the girls, telling them to make a commitment to improve in every area of their game that they believe they have shortcomings, and never to stop aspiring for greater things.

 

“My prayer to you all is that, as you have decided to take football as a career, your career will not end abruptly; it will keep progressing. As a federation, we want to see that you progress from the U17 level to the U20 and then the Super Falcons.” 

 

Present during the visit were the NFF’s Acting Deputy General Secretary, Dr Ademola Olajire;Director of Legal Services, Okey Obi, Esq; Director of Competitions, Ms Ruth David; Director of Finance and Administration, Mr Rajan Zaka; Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Dayo Enebi Achor and; Head of Women’s Football, Hajiya Amina Daura.