By Amaechi Agbo
Veteran sports broadcaster and former President of AIPS Africa, Dr. Mitchell Obi, has praised the resilience of Nigeria’s Super Falcons following their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia in their second group match at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), while urging the Federal Government to honour financial promises made to the team.
The victory marked a crucial response from the ten-time African champions after they suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi in their opening fixture, a result that had raised serious concerns over their campaign.
Reacting to the win, the Vice Chairman of Mastersports International said the Falcons restored pride with a display of determination and commitment despite not reaching their usual high standards.
“These valiant girls dug deep tonight to shake off the scorching scratch on their reputation and played with honesty of purpose. Not on their expected level, but they delivered on our expectation,” Obi stated.
With the team back on track, Obi said attention must now shift away from the players and towards those responsible for fulfilling commitments made to them.
He specifically referenced the reported $100,000 reward promised to the Super Falcons by President Bola Tinubu after their previous achievements, expressing hope that captain Rasheedat Ajibade would soon confirm the funds had reached the players.
“The buck shifts to those who have the task to incentivise them and deliver on their promise,” he said, stressing that patriotism must be demonstrated through action rather than words.
Obi added that once the issue of the outstanding promise is resolved and the Falcons overcome their remaining hurdle against Egypt, Nigerians can begin dreaming again of a successful qualification campaign and another strong outing on the global stage, including next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The respected journalist affectionately called Platini, concluded by applauding the team’s fighting spirit and encouraging them to remain focused on the challenges ahead.
“Patriotism is more than a word; it is a comportment. Those who expect excellence from our sports flag bearers should also show excellence in their pledge. Congrats, Super Falcons. The road ahead may be rough, but you are tough enough to travel it with plaudits. As I insist, effort is everything. Tonight, your diligence was a deep delight,” Obi said
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