Sports
India 2022: Gusau to lead support for Flamingos against Colombia on Wednesday
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau will be at the forefront of the support group when the country’s U17 girls, Flamingos tackle Colombia in the semi-finals of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Goa on Wednesday.
The NFF boss, who has spoken with the players and officials severally during their earlier games in the tournament, will physically witness the semi-final showdown at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. It is the first semi-final, starting at 4pm (12noon Nigeria time) with the second semi-final between Germany and Spain to kick off three-and-half hours later.
Victory over Colombia – who defeated the only other African team to make the knockout stage, Tanzania 3-0 in the last eight – will shoot the Flamingos into Sunday’s final.
The Flamingos’ odyssey in India has had an uncanny resemblance to that of the Nigeria U20 girls, Falconets in Germany 12 years ago, at least from the quarter-final stage.
In 2010, in what was the first international tournament for any Nigeria team under the presidency of Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the Falconets had beaten the United States 4-2 in a penalty shootout in a FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup quarter-final after both teams tied 1-1 in regulation time in Augsburg.
Four days later, a 2nd minute goal by Ebere Orji at the Bielefelder Alm in the city of Bielefeld condemned Colombia to defeat in the semi final, and the Falconets squared up to Germany in the final.
The Flamingos are the first Nigeria team to be involved in a tournament during the presidency of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau. They have beaten the United States in a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw in a World Cup quarter-final, and now await Colombia in the semi-finals.
It is also remarkable that Germany, Nigeria’s opponents in the final in Germany 12 years ago, are also in the semi-finals in India. They play Spain in the second semi-final on Wednesday.
Sports
Game Changer: ₦40 Billion Infusion Set to Revolutionize Nigerian Football
Joel Ajayi
Nigerian football is on the cusp of a major transformation, thanks to a groundbreaking ₦40 billion investment from Toptier Sports Management.
The 10-year strategic investment is set to supercharge the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) and the Nigeria National League (NNL), marking a seismic shift in the country’s domestic football landscape.
“This is a long-term investment in structure, people, and possibilities,” said Chichi Nwoko, Founder of Toptier Sports Management.
“If Nigerian football is going to truly compete, it must be built deliberately, funded properly, and managed professionally. That is what this ₦40 billion commitment represents.”
Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director General, National Sports Commission (NSC) said “this ₦40 billion commitment is a clear vote of confidence in the reforms taking place across Nigerian sports. At the Commission, we are intentional about creating an environment where credible private investors can partner with government to build sustainable leagues, protect athlete welfare, and grow the sports economy.”
Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, President, Nigeria Football Federation stated that “the NFF welcomes this collaboration because it strengthens our domestic football ecosystem, improving player welfare, enhancing club operations, and creating clear development pathways, particularly for women and emerging talents. This is how we build a future-ready Nigerian football system.”
The massive investment will drive league commercialization, club development, player welfare, and grassroots expansion, setting the stage for a brighter future for Nigerian football.
“We would like to sincerely thank the Director General of the National Sports Commission and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation for their leadership, support, and belief in a private-sector-led future for Nigerian sports,” Nwoko added.
League officials have hailed the deal as a turning point, shifting Nigerian football from short-term funding cycles to sustainable institution-building over the next decade.
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