National Teams
‘Concentrate more on NWFL players’ – Ngozi Okobi-Ekeoghene tasks NFF on Flamingos
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria international Ngozi Okobi Ekeoghene has led the praise for the U-17 women’s national team, following their stellar performances at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
The Flamingos continued from where they left off when finished third in India two years ago, securing impressive victories in their first two group matches, overcoming New Zealand 4-1 and Ecuador 4-0.
With all players scouted from the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) across various levels, the age-grade tournament has sparked renewed calls for home-based players to be integrated into the senior national team.
Okobi, a former Flamingos cum Super Falcons star, took to Instagram to highlight the team’s talent and the potential of the current squad. “@thenffofficial, this group is technically sound, showcasing a good coach who understands his job,” she posted.
Having progressed from the U-17 ranks to the Super Falcons herself, Okobi is optimistic that the current crop of U-17 players can follow a similar trajectory. “They can be the next @nigeriasuperfalcons in the near future as they continue to develop, because this was how I and many others started our national team journey.”
The excitement surrounding the Flamingos’ success is further amplified by Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu, who has called up a majority of home-based players for this month’s double-header friendly against Algeria in Lagos.
