SportsNFF Honours Super Falcons Class Of 1999 At NFF-Aiteo Awards Ceremony

NFF Honours Super Falcons Class Of 1999 At NFF-Aiteo Awards Ceremony

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September 21, (THEWILL) – Deserved recognition finally came to the class of Nigeria’s senior women’s national football team that reached the quarter finals of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup hosted in the United States of America.

The team won two of three games in the group stage to become the first African side to make it to the quarter finals of the women’s World Cup, where they came from three goals down to lose to the Brazilian team 4-3 in gut-wrenching, exciting, nail-biting game that was decided by golden goal, the first time in the women’s World Cup.

The recognition of that class of Super Falcons will be the main highlight of the 3rd NFF-Aiteo Football Awards scheduled for Monday evening and holding at the Banquet Hall of Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Glo

Amaju Melvin Pinnick, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said of their outing in the US: “The performance of the Super Falcons in that tournament remains etched in the memory and it is important that we honour them with a special recognition award.”

Unfortunately, attacking midfielder Ifeanyi Chiejine passed away last year, but no fewer than 15 members of the USA ’99 squad, as well as Coach Ismaila Mabo, will be recognised at the event at the Banquet Hall of Eko Hotels & Suites on Monday night. Eight of them are being flown down from the United States of America.

The squad sheet of the team that Nigeria sent to USA ’99 included Florence Omagbemi, Ann Chiejine, Yinka Kudaisi, Martha Tarhemba, Adanna Nwaneri, Eberechi Opara, Kikelomo Ajayi, Stella Mbachu, Rita Nwadike and Gloria Usieta. The others were Marvis Ogun, Prisca Emeafu, Judith Chime, Nkiru Okosieme, Maureen Mmadu, Florence Iweta, Nkechi Egbe, Patience Avre, Mercy Akide and Ifeanyi Chiejine.

This will be the third in a series of award ceremonies recognising the roles played by footballers of the past who brought honour and prestige to the country’s football fortunes. THEWILL recalls that Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, and Ahmad Ahmad, his Confederation of African Football (CAF) counterpart were joined by other eminent personalities and dignitaries at the first edition of the awards held in February 2018.

Then, Nigeria recognised and honoured the 1980 class of Green Eagles led by “Chairman” Christian Chukwu. They were the generation of Nigeria’s earliest football stars that won the country’s first AFCON title.

In the second edition of the recognition series, which took place in April 2019 and which was graced by the cream-de-la-creme of football and politics, it was the turn of the 1994 class of Super Eagles. They earned Nigeria the honour of a second AFCON title and played at the FIFA World Cup for the first time.

At this third in the series on Monday night, Princess Bola Ngozi Jegede, a respected pioneer sponsor, promoter and galvaniser of women’s football will also be honoured at the event, which will be attended by Fatma Samoura, FIFA’s Secretary General. Princess Jegede, who is also a former Board Member of the Nigeria Football Federation, founded and funded the team, Jegede Babes.

According to the organisers, awards will be handed out at the ceremony under the following categories:

Best Performance of the Year (Men; Nigeria-based)
Best Performance of the Nigeria (Men, Overseas-Based)
Best Performance of the Year (Women; Nigeria-based)
Best Performance of the Year (Women; Overseas-based)
Club of the Year (Men)
Club of the Year (Women)
Coach of the Year (Men)
Coach of the Year (Women)
Referee of the Year (Men)
Referee of the Year (Women)
Memorable Performance of the Year
Host State of the Year
Best Supporter of Women’s Football
Inspirational Award
Lifetime Achievement Award and Award for Commitment to Women Football Excellence.

In addition to all these, there will also be post-humous awards for Prince Larry Eze and Ms Henrietta Ukaigwe in recognition of their numerous contributions to the overall development of women football in the country.

About the Author

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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

Jude Obafemi, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

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