Sports Minister Tammy Danagogo on Monday in Abuja sent congratulatory messages to the national under-23 male and female football teams for recording superlative victories against their opponents last weekend.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the female team, the Super Falcons, beat their visiting Malian counterparts 8-0 in the second leg match of their All-Africa Games qualifier.
The win at the Abuja National Stadium Friday saw the team advancing to the 11th All-Africa Games (AAG) in September at Congo Brazzaville.
The male team, Dream Team VI, beat their Zambian counterparts 2-1 away in Lusaka in a make-or-mar second leg game, after a 0-0 draw in Abuja about three weeks earlier.
The Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Patrick Omorodion, said in a statement that Danagogo was full of praises for both teams.
“He was especially glad about the male side which had a more difficult nut to crack, after they drew 0-0 with the Zambians in the first leg of the qualifier decided at the Abuja National Stadium earlier.
“Most people had given up hope on the team qualifying. But, like the typical Nigerian who never gives up until it is over, they went to Zambia and played their hearts out and came out victorious.
“They must be commended for their team spirit and determination to succeed.
“The Falcons were not left out too as they rose to the occasion and showed that the 1-1 they played earlier in Mali was not a true reflection of what makes them the champions of Africa.
“They were business-like and didn’t want to leave anything to chance.
“I commend the efforts of both teams and their technical crew for the wonderful performance and urge them to redouble their efforts as they prepare for the competition proper,’’ the Minister, who is the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), said.
He said the NSC would play its own part in ensuring they got all they needed to represent the country creditably.
