China: Falconets get $10,000 cash motivation as Giwa calls for victory

By Albert Akota

Minister for Sports, Solomon Dalung, has pledged to give the Falconets a bonus of $10,000 if they beat China in their today’s final Group D game of the ongoing 2018 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
Nigeria faces China in a crucial final group game and must avoid defeat if they are to reach the quarter-finals for the seventh time in nine editions.
The Falconets game against the Chinese U20 women’s team is billed for the Stade de Clos Gastel.
The Nigerian women’s team currently second in Group D with three points from two games has wa superior goal difference over China their opponent today.
“I believe that the Falconets have been well motivated for Monday’s game against China and I’ve been assured by the players that they will play out their hearts to get a quarter final tickets,” Dalung said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media.
“The U-20 Women’s team has been in the final in 2010 and 2014 and I know that you all will work hard to repeat that success in 2018.
“Like I earlier promised, all your entitlements will be offset soon but you will get a personal token of $10,000 from me if you beat China today.
“As a country, we have identified our areas of strength and comparative advantage of which women’s football is one of them and we will need to invest more in it.
“On behalf of the His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari and the good people of Nigeria, I wish you a successful outing against China today.”
Meanwhile, ahead of the all important Group D encounter against China today, NFF President Amb. Chris Giwa has charged the national Under-20 women team, the Falconets to go all out for the three points and qualify for the quarter finals.
Amb. Giwa noted that though a draw was good enough for the girls to progress from the group, he, however, stated that going all out for the maximum points will give them the competitive edge needed to excel and qualify.
“Many times when you decide to settle for a draw, it could back fire, unlike when you fight for a win, as if that is what is needed to qualify, though a draw will be good enough. We want the Falconets to up their game against the Chinese tomorrow, he noted”
The NFF President further pointed out :”The Chinese will be as desperate as the Falconets, if not more, considering the slight advantage our girls have ahead of them. They will definitely fight for the maximum points, which is why we also want our girls fight till the end.”
“We are happy with the news that there are no injury worries in camp and the girls are in high spirit after the visit of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung before their match against Haita. The minister beyond his fatherly counsel to them, also promised the girls 10,000 dollars, if they win their last group game. So we are confident they are well motivated to do the nation proud, ”Amb. Giwa disclosed.
On his part, the Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme said: “These girls remain our best female ambassadors at the global level given their antecedents, especially in 2010 and 2014, when they played in the finals on both occasions.”
Nigeria is currently 2nd in Group D with 3 points behind leaders Germany who have 6. China is 3rd with 3 points and Haiti has no points.