Sports minister Sunday Dare has promised to give support to the Flamingos and help them bring more glory to Nigeria, just as Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa fulfilled his promise to the team.
The Flamingos returned from India to Abuja today, two days after becoming the first team from Nigeria to win bronze at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
They defeated Germany 3-2 on penalties after full-time ended 3-3 to also become the second African team to finish third in the tournament after Ghana in 2012.
During a reception for the team at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Dare said the sports ministry will provide maximum support and encouragement to the Nigeria Football Federation as the players graduate from one level to another.
“We commend you for the way you performed without fear and held up the flag to win a historic bronze for our country in this competition,” the minister said.
“I praise the NFF for the support to the team right from their screening through the qualifiers and to the arrangements for final camping in Turkey and the final tournament in India. We must also commend the coaching crew for their steadfastness in imparting the right knowledge to the players.
“I will be happy to see these players graduate from this level to the U-20 and then to the senior team, because they have the skills and talent, and demonstrated ability to do very well. The ministry will give NFF the right support to achieve that. They have served well as good ambassadors of our country on and off the pitch.”
Earlier, NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau had introduced the team to the minister, recalling the team’s exploits during the qualifying campaign and at the final competition in India, describing the players as “young, energetic, vibrant, positive and promising.”
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, hailed the team for “performing so wonderfully well” to make Nigeria proud, and observed that their success was attributable to synergy and telepathy, which should be credited to the coaching crew.
Captain of the team, Alvine Dah-Zossu, expressed appreciation to the ministry and the NFF, and thanked Nigerians from all walks of life who prayed for and wished the team well in India.
Earlier, on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the players and their officials were received by Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu (NFF 1st Vice President), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (General Secretary) and Ademola Olajire (Director of Communications).
Anyansi-Agwu gave kudos to the team for their excellent conduct on and off the field in India and assured them that the government and people of Nigeria, as well as the NFF, are proud of their accomplishments.
A dummy cheque of the sum of N3vmillion promised the team by Musa was presented to the players and officials at the airport.
Chairman of the NFF Task Force on Youth Competitions, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi, promised the team the sum of $10,000.
The Presidency will host the team at a later date.
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