A former Super Falcons coach, Ismaila Mabo, has said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) didn’t do enough for him to attend the recently held special reception for the Super Falcons class of 1999.
The historic squad of 1999 was honoured at the 3rd NFF-Aiteo Football Awards which was held on Monday, September 20, at Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos.
Regarded as the most successful Nigerian coach, the 77-year-old football tactician who guided the Super Falcons to quarter-finals at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2004 Olympics Games was conspicuously missing at the awards night.
Coach Mabo who spoke to Daily Trust on Wednesday said the football federation contacted him through a member of the committee that organized the event but there was no concrete arrangement for him to attend.
He explained that after he was informed that the Super Falcons of 1999 would be hosted and honoured on Monday in Lagos, no further contact was made so it was practically impossible for him to be in attendance.
“Few days before the event, a lady called from the NFF. I believe she is among those who organised the event. She said the federation wants to honour me and my girls. And that was all.
“Had it been they made flight arrangements for me, maybe my son would have taken me to the airport for me to be flown to Lagos. I was willing to attend but they didn’t do enough for me to be there.
“Most of my girls were not happy that I didn’t attend. They called to express their disappointment but it wasn’t my fault. I am also not happy that I missed that happy family reunion,” said Mabo.
The septuagenarian also expressed worry over the continuous decline in the performance of the Super Falcons.
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