The Secretary General of FIFA Fatma Samoura paid an impromptu visit to the Super Falcons of Nigeria right in the locker room after their qualification to the round of 16 at the ongoing Women’s World Cup in Australia having played a goalless draw with the Irish team in their last group B match. The result secured them 5 points behind Australia.
This is the first time the Super Falcons in the Nigerian history will go through a group stage without conceding a defeat.
A highly elated Fatma Samoura in the company of Ms Aisha Falode and other board members took time to appreciate the players and made them know how they have been a good representative of Africa at the world cup.
“I must say that personally, I am proud of you. As you know, I am the first woman to be Secretary General of FIFA since the organization was founded in 1904, and I am also an African. So, I am easily excited by any accomplishment that glorifies women’s football and African football,” Samoura said as she addressed the Falcons in their dressing room after the match at Lang Park.
“You have won only one match here, like Morocco and Zambia, but you are the only team that has made it to the knock-out stage yet,” she added.
“I am also excited because when FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced my name as the new FIFA Secretary-General, I was in Nigeria working for the United Nations. So, Nigeria is a second home for me.
“You should continue to believe in yourselves and play as a team, and be ready to lift the African flag higher in this tournament.”
Also present was Mr. Gelson Fernandes, the Director for Africa at FIFA, who is a former Swiss international player. He urged the Super Falcons to retain their self-belief and aim to go all the way.
The Super Falcons will face England in the round of sixteen on Monday, 8:30am Nigerian time at the Lang Park Stadium, Brisbane.
