SESC Boss, Prince Okumagba Shares His Olympics 2024 Experience Supporting Super Falcons
I decided, along with a few others, to travel to Paris 2024 as the founder and President of the Super Eagles supporters club of Nigeria in order to rally support for our girls’ team, the Super Falcons. As soon as we arrived in Paris, we went directly to Bordeaux, where the first match against Brazil was played.
The excitement was palpable, and as we arrived at the stadium, I could feel the energy buzzing among the fans and Nigerians in Bordeaux. As Nigerian supporters, our task is to stand out in the vibrant green and white jersey of our club and proudly wave our flags. This was not just a match, but a celebration of our nation and our resilient spirit.
There was a tangible buzz of enthusiasm among the Nigerians in Bordeaux and the spectators when we got to the stadium. It is our duty as Nigerian supporters to proudly wave our flags while standing out in the club’s bright green and white uniform. This was more than simply a game; it was a celebration of our country and our spirit of perseverance.
Unfortunately, the Super Falcons lost the match narrowly to Brazil, and after 2 days in Bordeaux, we moved to Nantes, a distance of about 5 hours by road, for the remaining two games of the first round.
Regrettably, we met Spain, and it was the same result. The last match against Japan was even more painful, as we had very high hopes of redeeming our battered image after those two losses. However, we lost again, this time with a higher score line. We managed to pull one back, and that was it for the Super Falcons.
I have had to stay two more weeks and am not able to change my flight because of the busy season for the airlines.
The disappointment was palpable, not only in the team’s performance but also in the lack of support from various quarters.
Determined to uplift the morale of our girls, I made the difficult decision to give out match tickets free for fellow Nigerians and distribute jerseys free just to ensure we had a sizeable presence in the stadium to boost the spirits of the team. Each cheer and chant from our supporters was a reminder to the players that they were not alone in their fight.
During the last match against Japan, we had seen a day before that the Japanese arrived in Nantes with four luxurious buses filled with fans, and that was the challenge we were to later face during the game.
A friend of SESC, Mr. Folarin, came all the way from Germany and also made some tickets available to help rally Nigerians to support the team. His commitment was a shining example of how pivotal support from individuals can be in a moment of desperation.
A CALL TO ACTION
However, we must confront a hard truth: supporters in Nigeria may not be fulfilling their responsibilities if sponsors and the government continue to look the other way. After three weeks in Paris, the reality of our predicament became evident. We incurred significant accommodation costs without a single sponsor stepping in to support us during this critical time.
As we shift our focus to the upcoming AFCON qualifiers on the 7th of September, I urge sponsors, businesses, and lovers of Nigerian football to come and support the Super Eagles Supporters Club of Nigeria, so we can continue to support the Super Eagles. We deserve the same encouragement that is readily given to our counterparts abroad.
“As we prepare for AFCON qualifiers, let us rally around our team with renewed vigor and commitment. We need to stand united as fans, supporters, and stakeholders, ensuring that our team qualifies for both the AFCON and the World Cup.” Said Prince Vincent Okumagba, Founder/President SESC and Vice Chairman, African Football Supporters Association.
