How Nigerians rarely see a thing on the same page is a course that needs to be studied in one of our universities.
It’s been so much hoopla since Monday when Pres. Tinubu splashed the OON National Award, US$100,000 Cash, and houses on players and crew of the Super Falcons who emerged victorious last weekend in the WAFCON 2024 hosted by Morocco. But the cash is really the bone of contention and I understand that there is poverty in the land and we are all feeling it because even Dangote still dey find money!
My take!
For once, can we all appreciate that these ladies deserve it and they are the Biblical ‘others have labored, and you have come into their labor’ (John 4:38b, NASB). If you are really a sports lover in this country, you will know that ‘Mission X’ grew through the pains of those erstwhile Falcons who ‘grind’ Mission 1 to 9 since 1998 when CAF began counting officially and that Nigeria started attending the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the inaugural edition in 1991 and has attended all editions ever since.
I recently listened to the Sports Zone radio show when one of those heroes narrated how they were bathing in the open (abi what is a doorless bathroom?) when about 500 of them, young girls, were on trials in Adamasingba stadium, Ibadan in 1995.
We are in this same country when early last year Nigeria’s Super Eagles took silver, dem no win o, but we all gave them a heroic welcome! Yet this women’s team, stat-for-stat, have gone head and shoulders above the men’s team, more world cup attendance, better world cup finish, more African Cup wins…in less time!
This is just a snapshot of what female football has been through in Nigeria!
If we have a President who for once closed the gap between men and women’s football, I don’t think he should be knocked.
Teachers, soldiers, NYSC Corp members, petty traders, sportsmen, (especially those in lesser-known sports) are not getting paid enough in Nigeria, very true, even me I don’t agree that I am being paid what I am worth, but let’s not use that as a basis to begrudge good that’s being done.
Let’s rather continue to put pressure on governments at all levels to do what they ought to do, laslas if things are in shape, healthcare, education, agriculture, etc., whatever we earn may be good enough to make us live decent lives within our economy.
To the Super Falcons, let them take this largesse with gratitude knowing well that they are standing on the shoulders of their forebears gone by, some dead even.
I come in peace.
#YeahMomentsWithYO!