As celebrations continue across Nigeria, following Saturday’s victory of the country’s female national team, Super Falcons, at this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has singled out the duo of Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo for special praise.
Sports247 reports that, during a video call to the team a few minutes after they beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final, President Tinubu specifically mentioned Ajibade’s name and then added an inference about Okoronkwo’s penalty that revived the Falcons’ hope after they initially went 2-0 down.
While hinting at an appreciative gesture from the government when the Falcons return home with the brand new trophy, Tinubu also praised the entire contingent of players, coaches, officials and administrators for making Nigeria proud with a record-extending 10th WAFCON title.
He declared, “I am very proud of you. The entire nation is proud of you. You lifted our spirits and brought pride to this generation. We are all very, very happy.
“You will be celebrated. I also congratulate all the coaches and the management of the team, including the ministers and officials.”
He then hailed the Falcons’ captain, Ajibade, who was voted most valuable player of the entire competition, and Okoronkwo, who emerged woman of the match for scoring a penalty that catapulted Nigeria from the first half setback and providing assists on the other goals for a historic 3-2 comeback victory.
“My very, very best regards to Rasheedat … that was very good. I also watched the penalty kick, and that was a very good exercise.
“To set a record of 10 victories is something that is not very small for the country and the continent. I am proud of you all. Safe journey, enjoy yourself,” Tinubu posited.
Sports247 adds that Falcons’ shot-stopper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, was also voted best goalkeeper of the competition, from which Nigeria made history by becoming the first winner of the new WAFCON trophy that was launched at Morocco 2024.
