Amputee Football Federation targets training tour for Special Eagles

Following the good performance of the National Amputee Football team popularly known as ‘Special Eagles’, President of Amputee Football Federation of Nigeria, Paul Maduakor says the Federation is considering possible training tour for the players to enable them improve on their game.

The Special Eagles at the just concluded Nations Cup held in Egypt came fourth to book a qualification for the Amputee World Cup in 2026 and Maduakor believes that exposing the players to countries that play amputee football professionally will help improve their game.

Speaking yo journalists on Saturday at FESTAC Town, Lagos where he received award from Paddysco Sports Academy as ‘PS Sports Industry Supplier of the Year’, he declared that such an exposure will make the players not only get international exposure but horn their skills in football.

” I want to say that the Special Eagles have continued to do the country proud. At the just concluded Nations Cup in Egypt, they did exceptionally well. They came 4th and picked a ticket for the 2026 World Cup while the host country with a world Cup winning Coach with Turkey came 7th.

” Actually, we were unlucky not to lift the trophy but I know that with more exposure, the team will play better, began Maduakor who is the Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Sports Limited.

” The truth is that we’ve learnt our lessons and we have ample time to prepare our players for the World Cup.
Right now, we have a lot on our card. By November 2-11, there will be a women World Cup in Columbia and we’re trying to see how we can prepare our female team for the World Cup.

” Part of our plan is to also look at the possibility of organising training tours
for these players to countries that play the game professionally. We want to do this because football is not only about training and playing amputee football locally but we want to give them the exposure needed to make a very good living playing the game”, he stressed.

He commended some philanthropists who supported the team just as he appealed for further support from them considering that going to Columbia will be more capital intensive than the trip to the Nations Cup.

Maduakor was also full of praises to the government and the Sports Minister for their support; saying that they appreciate their efforts at helping the team.

” I must have to appreciate the government who has been very supportive. You know in government bureaucracy is always there and there is paucity of funds in almost all the Ministries but kudos must go to the Sports Minister, Senator John Enoh who always try his best to make sure that every sports is carried along.