Sports Minister, Pinnick Head To Windhoek For Falcons

Minister of Sports/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo and NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, departed Nigeria on Friday night for Windhoek, to cheer the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, in the final of the 9th African Women Championship.

The duo flew aboard a South African Airways aircraft from Lagos to Johannesburg, and scheduled to connect another South African Airways flight from Johannesburg to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek on Saturday morning.

The Super Falcons, six-time African champions, will confront the Lionesses of Cameroon at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday evening in the final of the 9th African Women Championship.

Nigeria edged South Africa 2-1 in the first semi final before the Cameroonians got the better of the Ivorians in the other semi final, but not before their match went into extra time.

By virtue of their qualification for the final, both Nigeria and Cameroon have made sure of their places at the 7th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Canada in the summer of next year. Africa’s third representative will emerge after the third place match between South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday evening.

Play With Your Hearts – Pinnick Charges Falcons

NFF President Amaju Pinnick has charged the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, to play with all their heart when confronting the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in the semi finals of the 9th African Women Championship in Namibia on Wednesday.

Victories over Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia and Namibia shot the six –time champions to the semi finals on maximum points from their three matches, with victory against South Africa to guarantee a place in the tournament final and a berth at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Canada.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick

“I am truly impressed with the way the team has played in the tournament and they have no doubt, made Nigerians happy. Now, they have come to a point where they cannot afford to make any mistakes.

“Against South Africa, we have to be close to perfection. The rivalry between our two countries will make the match more competitive. So, we have to be at our very best. Our girls must play with their hearts.”

The clash at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek, which starts at 5pm Namibia time (4pm Nigeria time), is a repeat of the 2012 match –up between both teams in Equatorial Guinea, which the Banyana won to reach the final.

“I have told the girls that they have to overcome the South Africans to qualify for the final, because I want to travel to Namibia to watch them play the final on Saturday,” Pinnick added.

Pricewaterhouse To Audit NFF books…Exco Hails Eagles’ Win, Falcons’ Fabulous Run

In line with the desire to start on a clean slate and do things differently, the new NFF Executive Committee has approved the hiring of the services of world –famous Pricewaterhouse to audit the accounts of the Federation.

This was part of the resolutions reached at the meeting of the Executive Committee which took place at the Transcorp Corp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Wednesday night.

Related to the above is the approval given to hire the services of Financial Derivaties, another much –respected firm, to act as financial consultants of the NFF, and Ben & Co to act as Management Consultants.

NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick.

“This is all part of our vision to drive the engine of Nigeria football differently but energetically and to let the world know that we are determined to be transparent and accountable. All these decisions are being taken in the best interest of Nigeria football,” explained NFF President, Amaju Pinnick.

Also on Wednesday night, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande was named the Chairman of the Match Commissioners/Assessors Sub-Committee, which will work under the Referees Committee. The Vice Chairman is Chief Abel Ehigie, and members are Jamila Buhari, Abdulkadir Magaji Kabaka, Manzo Mohammed, James Odeniran, Mohammed Alkali, Emma Ochiaga, Bola Abidoye and Dave Egho.

The Executive Committee opted to constitute the Internal Audit Committee at a later date.

The fabulous run of the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, did not escape the attention of the Committee, which commended the maximum points garnered by the brilliant girls in their first two matches of the 9th African Women Championship in Namibia. In the process, the Falcons have sailed into the semi finals of the competition ahead of their final match of the group phase against the host nation, having scored 10 goals and conceded only two.

The Super Eagles also received praise for their fighting spirit in the 3-1 defeat of Sudan in Abuja on Wednesday that keeps alive hopes of qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals.