By Wale Ajayi
The NIgeria Under-17 women’s team qualified for the Semi final of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, putting behind the agonies of many years of struggles and failures.
The gallant girls saw their first half lead erased by the opposition who gave everything in the second half to win the game but fluffed begging chances.
At full time, the score stood at one goal apiece, meaning that penalty shootout was the only way left to break the deadlock.
Defender Blessing Edafe whose penalty gave Nigeria a first half lead, scored the decisive kick in the shootout to send Nigeria into the Semi Final where they will now take on the winner of the quarter final tie between Colombia and Tanzania.
Today’s win has finally put an end to eight years of torture and sorrow under the leadership of former NFF president, Amaju Pinnick.
During those years, Nigeria football fell from grace to grass as the National teams struggled to qualify for major competitions and even when they qualify, they get bundled out like pack of cards in the group stage or knockout stage.
Newly elected NFF president Ibrahim Gusau on assumption of office assured that the glory days will return to Nigeria football and has already inaugurated a 3-man taskforce led by the enigmatic Aminu Kurfi, with a mandate to give Nigeria youth football a new lease of life.
Now the bonuses and allowances that once went into private pockets will return and Nigeria footballers will be ready to die for fatherland once again.
