NFSC Chairman, Ikpea Hails Flamingos after U-17 World Cup Win
National Chairman of Nigeria Football supporters Club ( NFSC) Rev. Ambassador Samuel Ikpea has commended Flamingos for becoming the first African country to lift the FIFA women U-17 World Cup
The Coach Akeem Busari led side Saturday night at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, Rabat, Morocco made history by defeating one time world champion, Japan 2-1 to lift the coveted trophy.
Goals from Awawu Bashiru in the 39th minute and Oluebube Umejiaku in the 47th minute gave Nigeria a two-goal lead, before Fuki Ito pulled one back for Japan in the 80th minute.
In his congratulatory message, Ikpea described the victory as a reminder of that investing in grassroots sports will help the country overcome some of the problems facing Nigerian football even as he praised the girls for their resilience, hard work, discipline and commitment throughout the duration of the tournament.
” I want to commend the Flamingos for putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians and showing the world that we have abundant talents in the country.
” Their victory came as a result of resilience, hard work, discipline and commitment as well as the die- hard attitude of an average Nigerian which made them recover from their opening game loss to Poland to rediscover themselves and eventually lift the trophy. And I doff my hat for them.
Ikpea, while commending the National Sports Commission ( NSC) for the encouragement they gave the team throughout the duration of the championship, charged football administrators in the country to ensure that the girls graduate to the U-20 as part of the rebuilding process of the national teams.
” As we celebrate their victory, it’s equally important that those running football in the country will keep the girls together so that they will graduate to the next level as is done in other countries as that’s the only way we can build a more solid U-20 women national team and even the Super Falcons.
Ikpea also spoke about the importance of involving Supporters clubs in national team assignments; arguing that the celebration in Morocco after the victory would have been more glamorous with the Supporters club on ground at the stadia
” There is need for football administrators to always put the supporters club in their agenda for national team assignments because we’re a major stakeholder of the game.
” I want to tell you that the celebration in Morocco would have been something else with our drumming, singing, dancing and costume assuming our supporters were on ground to cheer the girls to victory but I thank God that they came back with the trophy.
