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By Emma Njoku
Former Super Falcons are mobilising for a meeting with President Bola Tinubu to plead with him to honour and reward them like the current squad that won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), recently, in Morocco.
After various meetings in the United States of America, ex-internationals including Prisca Emeafu, Kikelomo Ajayi, Martha Tarhemba, Perpetual Nkwocha, Judith Chime Kamala, Precious Dede, and Patience Avre-Odehi resolved to protest their non appreciation despite bringing football glory to the nation.
They said it was unfair for the successive past governments not to appreciate nine previous African titles and impressive campaigns at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Olympics.
One-time Super Falcons’ captain, Kikelomo Ajayi, commended President Tinubu for honouring the current Super Falcons and urged him to extend same treatment to past generations of stars who laboured to win laurels for Nigeria.
“We did our best for Nigeria, but no government appreciated our efforts. Mr President should remember the rest of us,” she said.
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Another ex-Super Falcons defender, Prisca Emeafu, said they would be eternally grateful should the National Sports Commission and Nigeria Football Federation sincerely make a case for their generation of forgotten heroines at the Presidency.
Ex-Falcons’ goalkeeper, Judith Chime, also stressed the need for the president to rewrite history.
“President Tinubu has made history by hosting and rewarding Falcons. Before Mission X, there were unsung heroines. He should be truly fatherly and wipe our tears,” Chime pleaded from Atlanta, Georgia.
Ex-midfielder, Martha Tarhemba, also applauded the recent presidential reception for the current Super Falcons, but appealed for fairness just as ex-attacker, Stella Mbachu, declared full support for past Super Falcons stars to protest their ill treatment.
From Chicago, USA, former Super Falcons’ striker, Patience Avre-Odeli, pleaded that they should be fully captured in the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We were used and dumped by corrupt government and NFF officials. Most of us have nothing to show for winning laurels for Nigeria. Some of our colleagues are mentally and physically hurt. All the promised monies, houses and lands have remained unfulfilled, hence we plead with President Tinubu to change the narrative as fast as possible. The National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko, NSC Director General, Bukola Olapade, and the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, should put the records straight for the President and First Lady to also appreciate the women football pioneers cum pacesetters. They remain our papa and mama,” said Avre-Odeli, who was in Super Falcons squad that first reached the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999 besides winning several African titles and featuring at Sydney 2000 Olympics.
