Former Super Falcons coach, Ismaila Mabo has revealed his excitement over the proposed Women Championship by CAF as he recalls past struggles and fights over the realization of continental games for African women clubs.
He posited in a chat interview: “We have been calling CAF to introduce when we were there, if you ask, we have been clamoring for it, that CAF should introduce women league and the rest of them, am happy that we are still alive when this thing will materialize and am sure if you meet the secretary of the Nigeria football federation, he would tell you that he feel very satisfied and happy about it, Well, I think our women league is one of the best in Africa and I believe that if sentiments would be put aside, we will improve the lots of our clubs and we will also continue to dominate Championships of the African Women League.”
On the sudden demise of Women football activists, Henrietta Ukaigwe who has sacrificed a lot, he shared his grief and condolences to the deceased family, “ Honestly, if she had gotten a little backing and if there had been honesty in appointing people or chairperson of Super Falcons, Henrieeta would have been one of them even though I will not say she was better than princess Jegede, or Omidiran, Mrs Abiola, but I think in terms of sacrificing everything to see to the progress of Super Falcons, she was one of them. Henrietta will never allow anybody to bring down Super Falcons, she will do anything to defend the team and go to any extent to see to the progress of Super Falcons.”
“I have been with her for many years, Henrietta was a very dynamic person, dynamic sport writer, she so much love football that she almost sacrificed her reporting job for the progress of Super Falcons, having been with her for so many years, she will go to the extent of criticizing coaches including myself because of the welfare of the girls, there was a body they usually call themselves, group of women reporters, she has been the defender of our girls and love women football very much, I was shocked to hear about her death in the network news, I called Henry in Abuja, who was very close to her, he confirmed it, it was a very shocking news.”
Ismaila was the head coach of the Nigeria women’s national team at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics. He led Nigeria to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, the team’s best ever result
