FIFA WWC-23: Nigeria Pillar of Sports Salutes Super Falcons Over Qualification -

The Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike (JP) has described the qualification of the Nigerian women national football team, Super Falcons, as well-deserved.

He gave the description today, in a Press Statement, emanating from the office of the Nigeria Pillar of Sports (ONPS) signed by its chairman, and made available to newsmen on Monday, following the completion of the Group-B matches earlier in the day, in which the Falcons recorded a barren draw against “The Girls in Green”, as the Irish women National football team is fondly referred to, by their fans.

The result sealed the Falcons’ advancement to the Round-of-16, as they finished 2nd on the group table with 5 points, one behind the co-host, Australia who topped the table, after garnering six points from two victories against Ireland and Canada, following their emphatic 4-0 victory over Canada.

Ejidike said, “following their pre-tournament shenanigans, over bonus with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), pundits gave the Super Falcons, little or no chance of advancement beyond the group stage, especially, considering the fact that, they ranked the least in the group, (40th) per the latest FIFA ranking. But all that (statistics) paled into irrelevance, as they proved doubters wrong, by first drawing (0-0) against the Olympics champions and one of the favorites for the tournament – Canada, and then stunned the co-hosts Australia 3-2, before signing off in the group phase with another barren (0-0)draw with Ireland, who were debutants at the World Cup. “Having confounded doubters, their qualification for the knockout stage is a well-deserved one”, Ejidike added.

The Pillar of Sports therefore charged the Falcons to go all out against their next opponents in the knock out stage, and prove once again, their mettle, as they aspire to better their 1999 record of a quarter finals finish. He however reminds them that, at the knock-out stage, there is little or no margin for errors and, therefore, advises them to be at their clinical best in front of goal, by converting every scoring chance they will manage to create.

The Anambra State-born Sports philanthropist also commended both the team’s technical crew, and the Nigerian Football Federation, for putting aside their pre-tournament differences, and ensure that the team brings smile to the faces of millions of soccer-crazy Nigerian. He enjoins the two parties to always put their eyes on the bigger picture, which is the national interest, whenever there is any, like they’re currently doing at the World Cup.