The minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has lauded the Super Falcons for defeating South Africa’s Banyana Banyana yesterday to become “the best women’s football team in Africa.”
In a statement signed by the minister’s media aide, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Dalung expressed happiness and congratulated the team for their display of hard work.
“Congratulations to the Super Falcons of Nigeria. Your supremacy in African football has been reaffirmed with this victory over South Africa and winning the competition for a record ninth time.
“Though the victory was a difficult one, it was a sweet revenge against South Africa who they lost to in the opening match,” he said.
The minister praised the team for not only qualifying for every edition of AWCON but for also clinching one of the Women’s World Cup tickets for France 2019.
“The Super Falcons deserve a pat on the back for winning this Championship several times. They have participated in all the editions of the 20-year championship but it’s now time to take another giant leap as you prepare for the World Cup,” Dalung added.
He assured of government’s unflinching support for further development of women’s football in the country and vowed to ensure that the team gets adequate preparation before the World Cup next year.
It will be recalled that the Super Falcons won the final of the Africa Women Cup of Nations against the Banyana Banyana on Saturday at the Accra Sports Stadium via penalties.
It was also the first time the winner of the competition was decided through penalties.
