By Wilson Adekumola
The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, alongside top government functionaries will host Super Falcons at the send forth dinner at the Transcoro Hilton Hotel, on Saturday in Abuja, ahead of the team’s departure for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
This was made known in a statement by Ademola Olajire, Head of Communications of the Nugerian Football Federation on Thursday, saying that the dinner was organised by the country’s football body.
NAN reported that the FIFA Women World Cup is scheduled to take place over a period of one month, starting from July 20 to Aug. 20.
The statement read, “We are expecting the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Ismaila Abubakar as well as other top sports officials.
“A good number of the team as well as technical and administrative officials are expected alongside the rank and file of the NFF led by the President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi.
“The event at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel will also attract corporate chieftains, members of the diplomatic corps and a range of football stakeholders.
“On Sunday, the nine-time African champions will depart the shores of Nigeria for a 15-day camping programme in Australia, before they enter into camp for the tournament beginning from July 20 to Aug. 20,” Olajire noted.
Nigeria’s first match of the finals is against Canada, at Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium, on July 21 before clashes Australia and Republic of Ireland on July 27 and July 31 respectively, at the Lang Park in Brisbane.
It was learnt that Australia and New Zealand 2023 will be the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in history, as it welcomes 32 teams – same number as featured in the men’s finals in Qatar last year.
It is also the first to be hosted by two countries, and the first-ever FIFA senior competition to be hosted by two countries in two different confederations: Australia in the Asian confederation while New Zealand in Oceania.
Nigeria’s captain Onome Ebi will be one of the oldest players at the tournament, at 40, alongside Brazil’s Marta and Canada’s Christine Sinclair.
The three women will be featuring in their sixth FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament.
The NFF disclosed that 24 hours before the Send-Forth at the Transcorp Hilton, the Australian High Commission, will host the Falcons to a dinner, courtesy of the Ag. High Commissioner, Her Excellency Leanne Johnston.
It was gathered that the Super Falcons are in the Group ‘B’ alongside Australia, Canada and Republic of Ireland.
Nigeria has previously played the Canadian and Australian women’s national teams at the FIFA World Cup.
The Canadians are yet to defeat Nigeria at the World Cup, drawing 3-3 in 1995 and losing 1-0 in 2011.
Nigeria’s meeting with Australia at the FIFA World Cup in 2015 ended in a 2-0 victory in favour of the Australians.
