By Francis Ajuonuma
With less than 30 days to the kick-off of the 2023 FIFA World Cup, the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has charged the Super Falcons to surpass their record set 24 years ago in the United States.
Super Falcons’ best outing at the FIFA Women’s World was in 1999 in United States where they got to the quarterfinals before being sent out by Brazil in a keenly contested game that ended 4-3 after the game had ended 3-3 in the regulation time. The South American winner came via the gold goal rule scored in the 104th minute by Sissi (Sisleide do Amor Lima).
Legendary Nigerian coach, the late Ismaila Mabo was in charge of the team which paraded the likes of Mercy Akide, Rita Nwadike, Nkiru Okosieme, Prisca Emeafu, Nkechi Egbe amongst others, and their impressive performance in the United States remains Nigeria’s best world cup outing in the history of the championship.
The NFF in a communique it made available to ThisNigeria at the end of its Executive Committee Meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja told the Super Falcons that Nigerians are expecting the best from them hence, they have to produce a record outing at the championship which promises to be the biggest and most colourful in the history of the competition.
“The Board charged the nine-time African champions to marshal their best efforts to produce a record outing at this year’s championship, which will the biggest and most colourful in the history of the competition,” the NFF stated in the communique.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup holds from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and Newzealand.
Also, the football house has commended the Super Eagles for sealing their ticket to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Ivory Coast and charged the team to show more zeal, cohesion, and fierce dedication to the nation.
“The board congratulated the Super Eagles for their performance, but charged the team to show more zeal, cohesion, and fierce dedication to a national cause that will guarantee such a great outing at the finals that Nigerians will be proud of,” the NFF added in the communique.
In attendance were, Ibrahim Musa Gusau (President); Felix Anyansi-Agwu (1st Vice President); Yusuf Ahmed (member); Babagana Kalli (member); Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (member); Ganiyu Majekodunmi (member); Sunday Dele-Ajayi (member); Aisha Falode (member); Nse Essien (member); Margaret Icheen (member); Timothy Heman Magaji (member) and Mohammed Sanusi (Secretary).
