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Fatma Samoura hails Nigeria over making Africa proud with Round of 16 qualification
By Wale Mustapha
Secretary General of FIFA, Fatma Samoura has joined the world to rain applauses on the Nigeria’s senior women national team for their incredible run at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The Scribe of world football governing body who is also at the tournament saw Super Falcons held on to record draw in their last group game against Republic of Ireland on Monday.
The result which has seen the nine times Women African Cup of Nations, WAFCON champions qualified for the second round of the mundial was described by commendable by Samoura who also charged them to redouble their efforts in subsequent games.
She said the qualification has brought joy to women’s football as a whole with their elegance and resilience on the pitch, as well as African women football and the African girl-child.
“I must say that personally, I am proud of you,” Samoura said. “As you know, I am the first woman to be Secretary General of FIFA since the organization was founded in 1904, and I am also an African.
“So, I am easily excited by any accomplishment that glorifies women’s football and African football.”
The FIFA top official who was accompanied to see the Falcons by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF delegation including Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu (NFF 1st Vice President) and NFF Board Members Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen, Alhaji Babagana Kalli and Ms Aisha Falode, said the performance of the Falcons is a terrific inspiration to other African teams at the tournament.
“You have won one match here, as Morocco and Zambia, but you are the only team that has made it to the knock-out stage yet. I am also excited because when FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced my name as the new FIFA Secretary-General, I was in Nigeria working for the United Nations. So, Nigeria is a second home for me.
“You should continue to believe in yourselves and play as a team, and be ready to lift the African flag higher in this tournament.”
Nigeria will be meeting the winner of the Group D involving England and Denmark, Haiti and China.
