Several former Nigerian women’s football stars, under the umbrella of United Ex-Super Falcons of Nigeria Worldwide, have applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, for their renewed commitment to appreciating women footballers.
The commendation followed an online meeting on Wednesday where the ex-internationals celebrated Tinubu’s recent gesture of rewarding the current Super Falcons with cash prizes, plots of land, and national honours after their WAFCON triumph in Morocco.
Former captain Kikelomo Ajayi said the recognition has inspired younger players across the country.
“The nation stands to gain from this initiative,” she noted, while urging the presidency to extend similar honours to past heroines who laid the foundation for today’s successes.
US-based former forward Patience Avre-Odeli praised Mallam Dikko’s advisory role to the presidency on sports development.
“We monitored Dikko’s comments at a youth rendezvous in Abuja and were impressed with his vision. He confirmed that recommendations have been made to President Tinubu to honour many of us who shed sweat and blood for Nigeria. For us, it’s a new dawn,” she said.
Ireland-based ex-vice captain Prisca Emeafu, however, lamented that her generation was not as fortunate as today’s Falcons.
“Some of us won AWC—now WAFCON—but never received a dime from government, the NFF, or the sports ministry,” she recalled.
Emeafu revealed she needs $40,000 for surgery on a knee injury sustained while in Falcons camp and narrated a traumatic experience of being disfigured during an armed robbery attack at Obasanjo Farms, Ota.
“Many of my colleagues are suffering today because of irresponsible leadership. It is our prayer that President Tinubu and Mallam Dikko correct the mistakes of the past,” she said.
Also speaking, US-based Martha Tarhemba thanked President Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for their generosity but appealed for urgent medical support for ailing ex-players.
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