The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has postponed this weekend’s All-Comers competition as a mark of honour for late Brown Ebewele.
The competition, scheduled for Asaba clashes with the funeral rite for its former technical director, Ebewele who will be committed to mother earth on Friday in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government, Edo state.
In a statement signed by Prince Adeniyi Adisa Beyioku, the AFN Secretary General, the postponement became necessary because of the former Nigeria decathlon king’s burial programme which begins with a vigil mass on Thursday at his Benin City residence.
“The postponement of the AFN All-Comers competition is in honour of our departed hero, Hon Brown Ebewele whose burial ceremony is scheduled to hold from 27th to 30th January, 2022,” read the statement.
Ebewele died on December 31, 2021 after a brief illness and his funeral rites will start with the vigil mass on Thursday while there will be a lying-in-state at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City on Friday morning.
The body of the late ‘Juju man’, as he was fondly called will moved to Uromi for a funeral mass before he would be committed to mother earth later that day.
The Super Eagles were hosted at breakfast by the Minister of Youth and Sports Sunday Dare yesterday morning following their arrival from Cameroon.
Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Ist Vice-President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Shehu Dikko, Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode and all other important dignatories also graced the occasion.
Dare in his speech commended the Super Eagles despite the team’s early exit from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
“From all indications, Nigeria believes in them. President Muhammadu Buhari believes in them and I, as Minister, also have full belief in them.
“They will in fact be encouraged and supported to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup finals later this year and the 2023 African Cup of Nations Tournament in Cote’d Voire next year. This Super Eagles team will show the world the great heights to which truly they can soar”, Sunday Dare remarked.
He commended Austin Eguavoen and the coaching staff and concluded that they gave a strong performance.
“They faced the challenge bravely and gave a good account of themselves. They did their very best and that is all we can ask of them.”
Continuing, the minister remarked “We will lift the spirit of our boys and as professionals they will look beyond AFCON and continue to work with their technical team to ensure continuous improvement.
“The overall performance of the team during this tournament shows we have regained our better footing and are heading in the proper direction.
“Our football, once again was fluid, purposeful and beautiful to watch. We have a good team and Nigeria will help them to get better.
“I also want to use this opportunity to thank soccer-loving Nigerians who followed the team’s participation at the competition. I thank the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for rising up to the task and for rising up to the task and for its commitment to ensuring that every support was given to the team.”
The Super Eagles were eliminated from the 2021 AFCON finals after going gown to a 1-0 defeat against Tunisia in the second round.
