FG assures of support for women's football, graces draw Betsy Obaseki Women's Football Tourney

Minister of Youth and Sports  Development  Mr  Sunday Dare  has re affirmed the commitment of the FG to the development of women football in Nigeria. 

The Minister gave the assurance during the draws of the maiden edition of the Betsy Obaseki women football tournament  held in Benin on Sunday.

The Betsy Obaseki women football tournament is sponsored by the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Betsy Obaseki as her own contribution to the development of the game in the country alongside the private sector. 

 According  to the Minister, "This competition is a re-affirmation of the important place of women's football in our country and also an attestation  of the status of Edo State as the home of Football in Nigeria. 

"Coming just a few days after Nigeria successfully hosted the  the First Lady, Dr.  Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos only confirms Nigeria's leading role in women football on the continent and the importance  attached to the development  of the girl child."

The Minister further said, "As a Ministry, we are interested in creating a new roadmap  for football(both men and women).We are  grateful  that her Excellence, the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Obaseki is also partnering with  the women football league to promote the women's game. 

"As Edo State comes agog hosting the best of women footballers, we look forward to  fresh discoveries and the best that this country  can offer.

"Once again, let me most sincerely thank his Excellence  the Edo State Governor Mr  Godwin Obaseki and his  equally sports loving Deputy, Comrade Phillip Shuaibu  for lending support to her Excellency by agreeing  to play host to this tournament.

"We all look forward  to the hospitality of the good people of Edo which is the heart beat of sports in Nigeria." Dare concluded.

Amene sees Aisha Buhari Cup as springboard to boost Women's Leagues in Nigeria

A board member of the Nigeria Women Football League and General Co-ordinator of the NWFL Nationwide League, Mr Joe Amene believes the Aisha Buhari Cup will further improve and develop the standards of the three tiers of the Nigeria Women Football League - the Premiership, Championship and the Nationwide leagues.

 

Amene noted that just as the Women African Cup of Nations is aimed at improving and developing the standard of women's football in host countries of the continent, as well as stadia infrastructure and general awareness of women football, it's going to be the same situation with the Aisha Buhari Cup as it concerns the Nigeria Women Football League.

 

"Last year, the NWFL witnessed a positive revolution in the area of development at the Premiership Super Six held in Ijebu Ode, which took the women's league to another level. This time around, the Aisha Buhari Cup will impact on upgrading of soccer artistry, display of skills and playing standard in the various clubs in the three tiers of the Nigerian Women league and other lower clubs in Lagos and other parts of the country.

 

"The players in these leagues, most definitely will mould their games in the ways that will be displayed by players from the leading six women football-playing countries in Africa. Some of them will even adopt pseudo names of top players in the competition.”

 

Amene, who is also a former board member of the Nigeria Professional Football League, stressed that development in the area of up-to-date international standard facilities in the assigned venues at the Agege Stadium and the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, both in Lagos, will be beneficial to the NWFL.

NWFL throws weight behind Flying Officers Cup

The Nigerian Women Football League (NWFL) has officially thrown it's weight behind the third edition of the biggest Women Football Pre-season Championship in Africa, the Flying Officers Cup, which will hold from the 10th to the 24th of October 2021.

In an official endorsement letter signed by the Chief Operating Officer (C.O.O) of the Organisation, Mrs Dupe Shabi, the Apex Women League body stated that the NWFL has given it's backing to this year's edition of the tournament and would give it's general support to make the competition a success. 

Ratels Sports Development Foundation have shown great commitment to the activities and development of Women's Football in Nigeria and have been sole sponsor of the Flying Officers Cup since 2019. In the final of the 2020 Edition between Nasarawa Amazons and Bayelsa Queens, NWFL Chairperson, Aisha Falode bagged a special award in recognition of her role in the development of Women's football in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. 

In the letter of endorsement, Shabi wrote: " We are pleased to confirm our endorsement of the Flying Officers Cup 2021, scheduled to hold between the 10th-24th October 2021 in Abuja. 

"The Nigeria Women Football League will give all necessary support to Ratels Sports Development Foundation to ensure an hitch free tournament". She Concluded. 

The NWFL played a pivotal role in the last edition of the Flying Officers Cup in Abuja and had the Chairperson of the League body, Aisha Falode, NFF Second Vice President, Shehu Dikko  in attendance, as special guests of honour.

Governor Sanwo-Olu says Lagos cherishes right to host Aisha Buhari Cup, promises fabulous tournament

The Government of Lagos State is delighted that the ‘Centre of Excellence’ was chosen to host the inaugural edition of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament and will leave no stone unturned to stage a tournament for the beautiful side of memories, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu assured on Friday.

Speaking when Members of the Local Organizing Committee of the tournament led by NFF 1st Vice President/Chairman of Lagos State FA, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi paid him a courtesy visit at the State House, Marina, Sanwo-Olu did nothing to hide his enthuasiasm, and confessed a deepening love for football and especially the women’s game.

“Football is one of the lead factors that bridge the gap and bring communities closer together and is enabling a more exciting world. The women’s game has continued to pull its weight and can be said to be presently at par with the men’s game in the euphoria that it generates, and the sheer class, stamina, excellence and expertise that the players put on display.

“Lagos State, the State of aquatic splendour, is delighted to be named as host of this very important invitational tournament. We will aim to not only host a tournament befitting of the name and positive values that Her Excellency projects and promotes, but also want to showcase our State and the country at large through an efficient and effective organization that will be talked about for a long time.”

While heaping encomiums on President of Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick for being “highly dedicated and passionate about the sport, and a man who always believes and works hard to make things happen,” Sanwo-Olu recalled the role Lagos State Government played in the Super Eagles travelling by waterways to the 2021 AFCON qualifying match against Benin Republic in Cotonou in March this year, and stated that the exercise has already produced direct spin-offs. 

“We have signed contracts to build nine

mini-stadia across the State and these will be of immense value to the youth of this country who are highly talented but only need infrastructure to nurture to world standard.”

Insisting that the ongoing renovation work at the Teslim Balogun Stadium will make the facility the best in the country, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos will be ready and proud to host First Lady, Dr (Mrs) Aisha Buhari during the tournament, and assured that the tenacious football fans in Lagos will add much colour to the week-long tournament. 

“The opportunities available in football are boundless, so we will commit to delivering a successful and model event that will spur us to encourage and support women’s football in our institutions of learning in Lagos State.”

Speaking earlier, Mr. Pinnick informed Governor Sanwo-Olu that the LOC members were A-list individuals carefully drawn from the football, business and political spheres, and are already aligned to the fact that the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament must meet the best

standards possible anywhere, and has to leave worthy legacies that will reflect brilliantly on Nigeria’s image in the universe.

“I want to specially thank Governor Sanwo-Olu for the role has played in supporting the Super Eagles and other National Teams, but let me say here that the month of September is a loaded one. The Super Eagles will kick off their 2022 World Cup qualifying race against Liberia in Lagos on 3rd September, and then fly from here to play Cape Verde away. The Aisha Buhari Cup is a very big project, because nothing must go wrong. We want to do it so well that subsequent editions will have a template to fall back on.”

Chairman of the LOC, Barr. Akinwunmi praised Sanwo-Olu for his tremendous support and encouragement of football in Lagos State and nationally, and pledged that the committee will organize a tournament worthy of the name of the First Lady and which honours the Centre of Excellence.

In her vote of thanks, the Director of Organization, Aisha Falode said hosting the tournament is a big opportunity for Nigeria to make a statement, and that the entire LOC membership was attuned to the vision of using the tournament to engender new, positive narratives about Lagos State (the cradle of women’s football in Nigeria) and the Nigeria nation.

At the occasion were Pinnick, Akinwunmi, Falode, Sola Aiyepeku (Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission); Toyin Gafaar Bolowotan (DG, LSSC); Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau (Member, LOC); Dr Wole Aboderin (Member); Mr Saidu Suleman (Member); Mrs Amina Daura (Deputy Director of Organization); Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen (Member); Hon. Ayo Omidiran

(Member); Mr Ademola Olajire (Director of Publicity); Mrs Ufuoma McDermott (Member); Miss Oluwakemi Areola (Member); Mr Olayinka Olagbemiro (Member); Miss Ese Okpomo (Member); Mr Kola Daniel (Member); Mr Rajan Zaka (Finance Director); Mr Mohammed Ameenu (Ag. Secretary) and Mr Taye Ige (Marketing Consultant).

#NWPLFinalDay: Abdul Sule charges Confluence Queens to beat Pelican Stars

As part of their efforts to end the 2016/2017 Nigeria Women Premier League, NWPL season on a high Confluence Queens have promised total victory over their guests Pelican Stars of Calabar on Wednesday.

Pinnick discloses NFF's plans to commission six new secretariats

...  Says Lagos State deserves pat on the back

The Nigeria Football Federation will soon embark on a nationwide developmental project for the Football Associations of the various States, in the form of mini Secretariats, so says NFF President Amaju Pinnick.

NWPL Matchday Two Preview

After a first week of surprising results, the Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) returns to bring several exciting match up. 

Phillips: Confluence Queens good enough to upset Delta Queens

Lola Philips believes Confluence Queens should be strong enough to pick up a result this midweek away to Delta Queens.

Falode unveils plans to restructure women's football in Nigeria

With the 2016/17 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) set to get underway this weekend, Independent Chairperson of the board, Aisha Falode has declared that the mandate given to her team by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is to ensure that the league has a face-lift, proper restructuring and befitting standard.

Women Football Finally Finds a Messiah as Aisha Falode Emerges Chairman

 Delectable, dependable, indefatigably Amazon, Aisha Falode has weathered the storm of uncertainty, she has broken the stumbling blocks of failures and scaled the hurdles of impossibilities as she emerged, chairman of the Nigeria Women league.

FCT FA Rejects NFF Appointments into League Boards

The Board of the FCT Football Association has disassociated itself from the recent appointments made by the NFF into the Boards of the various League bodies.

NFF Gives No Objection to New Board of Leagues

The Nigeria Football Federation has received the report of the Selection Committee for the Boards of the Leagues, through the Ad-hoc Governing Committees that have been managing the various Leagues.