Nigeria’s female under-17 national team, Flamingos have received invitation to play an international friendly in China during the month of July, which the hosts say will refresh memories of the Olympic Eagles’ silver medal feat at Beijing 2008.
Sports247 recalls that the Nigerian under-23 squad coached by Samson Siasia, featuring icons like Chinedu Obasi, Apam Onyekachi, Ebenezer Ajilore and Peter Osaze Odemwingie lost the football final to Argentina’s squad captained by Lionel Messi.
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Though now 18 years ago, Chinese football fans still remember the Nigerian team’s impact during that year’s Olympic Games’ football event, and the cadet females are now set to reap from the under-23 squad’s achievement in Beijing.
This much was revealed during a visit by China’s ambassador, His Excellency Yu Dunhai, to the president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, during which both personalities had far-reaching discussions regarding collaborations.
While pointing out that there are a lot of partnerships and exchange programmes already going on between both countries, Ambassador Dunhai, who is into the second year of his tenure in Nigeria, praised Gusau for his interest in Chinese football.
Ambassador Dunhai added, “Football is a very strong instrument for forging unity, because it belongs to the youth, and the youth represent the future. Presently, there are many Nigerian players and coaches in the Chinese League.
“I am always thrilled to realise that Nigeria and China share the same Independence Day – October 1. My first knowledge of Nigeria came through football – when your boys won the Olympic football gold in Atlanta in 1996.
“Twelve years later, they won the silver medal in China. Your U17 boys are also very strong and have the greatest collection of titles in the FIFA U17 World Cup. Incidentally, their first title was in China in 1985.”
He concluded with a hint regarding the invitation extended to the Flamingos, saying: “Football needs no language. Although our men’s team is not that strong, we are better in the women’s game and our people do enjoy watching the game.”
