Aisha Falode, the Chairperson of the oldest women’s league in Africa, spoke about the reform that the league has been undergoing since she took over in 2017 as well as the challenges the league board has faced and are still facing in their bid to continue raising the bar on quality and professionalism.

The ace Sports Journalist and Football Administrator who has been a great inspiration to alot young Ladies shed more light on the progress of the NWFL under her leadership.

“We are a role model to other African countries,” she noted. “The football associations of other countries write to us to give them our template.”
 
The Aisha Falode-led board has created a structure that offers more competitions and priorities the welfare of players and referees.

“You cannot sell yourself short,” Falode stated.
 
It may have taken five years for the first sponsorship deal to eventually arrive, but Falode is proud of the work they have put in to transform the women’s league in Nigeria, in spite of having “next to zero support”.

The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) recently signed a multi-million naira partnership deal ahead of the NWFL Premiership Super Six scheduled to take place in Benin from 16-22 May 2022.

 
Falode, who also pointed out that “we must begin to blow our own trumpet” used some of her time on stage to call on more companies to invest in women’s football in Nigeria with the emphasis that “football today is big business”.

The Super Falcons should provide a model for the Super Eagles and the NFF can work to make that model stronger

In the past 18 years, the Falconets and Flamingos have been the bedrock of the Super Falcons. They feed the senior team after each tournament and the coaches of the Falcons have helped with seamless progression of the girls

Since the U20 and U17 women’s world cup started, the youth teams have produced amazing talents for the Falcons and their progression has been smooth and have helped the Falcons to maintain dominance in Africa and rise to prominence in the world.

Let me start from 2010

In 2010, the Falconets got to the final of the world cup. In that team, we had Alaba Jonathan, Osinachi Ohale, Cecelia Nku, Glory Iroka, Desire Oparanozie, Helen Ukaonu, Amarachi Okoronkwo, Esther Sunday, Charity Adule, Ngozi Ebere, Ebere Orji, Josephine Chukwunonye and others. These girls moved to the Falcons and won the AWCON that same year and some played at the Senior World Cup in 2011. Oparanozie joined the Falcons after returning from the U20 world cup and scored 5 goals at AWCON

The Flamingoes played at the 2010 U17 World Cup and from there, Ngozi Okobi and Francisca Ordega joined the Falcons as 17 year olds and won the AWCON same year and Ordega even scored at AWCON as a 17 year old girl

Since then, the Falconets and Flamingoes have produced: Asisat Oshoala, Osarenoma Igbinovia, Uchenna Kanu, Joy Bokiri, Glory Ogbonna, Uchenna Kanu, Uchechi Sunday, Halimatu Ayinde, Ugo Njoku, Chiamaka Nnodozie, Monday Gift, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Rasheedat Ajibade, Vivian Ikechukwu, Chinaza Uchendu Chidinma Okeke, Peace Efih, Sarah Nnodim, etc

At the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, Chidinma Okeke provided a sublime assist to Asisat Oshoala. In 2018, she played at the junior world cup with Nnadozie and a year later, Okeke provided that assist for a goal that guaranteed Nigeria’s place in the round of 16 for the first time in 20 years while Asisat Oshoala, another product of the Falconets scored. In goal, Chiamaka Nnadozie made history as the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup. A year earlier in 2018, she was a Falconets player.

Time will probably not be enough to enumerate what the girls from the youth teams have done for the Falcons

These girls had played for the Falcons and won laurels with the team even before most of them turned 20 or 22

This model has sustained the Falcons for almost two decades and kept them relevant. This model can be replicated at the Eagles and the narratives could change

The NFF should also ensure that this model is not interrupted by the influx of Nigerian players born abroad into the national teams. This model has strengthened the league and the women’s team.

This is why attention must be given the Falconets and Flamingoes and thankfully, the NFF have shown their support and the Falconets have already qualified for another World Cup

The Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets deserve this attention too, along with the U15 male team, the Future Eagles. This model can work to get our teams flying again.

Bethel Kalu writes from Aba, Abia State

Nigeria International Lilian Tule has joined the Cyprus side, Lakatamia FC from Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership outfit, Edo Queens.

The 22 year old has officially been announced by the club and said to have signed a one year deal plus another option of a further year subject to performance.

Confirming her signing, the club announced with huge excitement on their Facebook page @LakatamiaFC, saying:

“We welcome to our team the international Nigerian football Lilian Tule. The 22-year-old Lilian is fighting like a left back half. Welcome to Lakatamia FC Lilian”.

While reacting to her recent move, Lilian expressed her delight in starting  “a new adventure in Europe” which she described as an honour.

“I am delighted to open another chapter of my journey with a foreign club with good visions on women football development Lakatamia FC.

It’s an honour to play for this club and I want to take this opportunity to thank all staffs of Edo Queens, my teammates and the fans who have continued to show support for my game.”

“I want to single out my management team, Reel Sports Management for being a strong support system and making sure this transition was very smooth,” she stated.

Lilian Tule was instrumental in National level, as she featured in 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup as a falconet player.

However, the deal that took Lilian to Lakatamia FC was brokered by a seasoned cum journalist & a manager Abidoye Babatunde Blackcoin, also with Mac Terhemba Imenger featuring in the deal.