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…Urges better deal for women footballers
By Emma Njoku
Ex-Super Falcons striker, Patience Avre-Odeli, has applauded the national Under 20 Women Football team, Falconets, for emerging champions at the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Under 20 tournament in Benin Republic.
Avre, who represented Nigeria at the Africa Women’s Confederation Cup (AWCON), Olympic Games and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, said the Moses Aduku tutored Falconets made Nigeria proud by defeating Ghana and Benin Republic, twice each, to emerge as WAFU champions.
Speaking from Chicago, yesterday, Avre noted that the Falconets gave her a special birthday gift on Wednesday.
“Clearly, the Falconets made the nation proud by emerging champions in grand style. Dethroning our archrivals, Ghana, is no mean feat. Wednesday was my birthday and my busy schedule didn’t prevent me from following the game against Ghana in Benin Republic. The 3-0 win spiced my birthday celebration. I’m happy that the young girls maintained the tradition we established in my time in the Super Falcons. Winning four games and scoring several goals was fantastic,” began the ex-Ufuoma Babes FC of Warri and Princess Jegede Queens of Lagos striker.
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She went on by advising the Nigeria Football Federation and National Sports Commission to adequately motivate and mobilise the Falconets towards doing better in future matches.
The Isoko Delta born Avre-Odeli said beside adequate motivation, there should be a longer camping period ahead of the FIFA Women’s Under 20 World Cup.
“I learnt the next assignment would be against Senegal soon. Let NFF and NSC give the team sufficient moral and financial support. I was disappointed over reports that the Under 17 team got a meaningless amount of money recently.
“That was not encouraging; hence our champions must be properly encouraged. I also pray that the NFF stops owing players and coaches who brought honour to the country. I and some other Super Falcons players were owed by some corrupt NFF officials in the past. We won several titles, but we were not celebrated and compensated. Such unnecessary selfishness and corruption must stop,” she concluded.
