Female Football Development in Nigeria

The dwindling fortune in our female football is alarming. The once dreaded super falcons and all our national teams over the years has witnessed a drop in our performance. Countries such as South Africa, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and recently Cameroun are gradually becoming a force to be reckoned with in female football. The reason for this trend is the neglect of our local league which was the bedrock of our development. It is quite interesting that the Football house worry over the male counterparts funding to the detriment of the female teams and it is still the female teams that brings the nation the glory it deserves. The private sectors are not investing in female football and the government has failed to see the fortunes and employment opportunity it would bring to our younger generation. Sports Women like Chioma Ajunwa, Pepetual Nkwocha, Mercy Akhide, Florence Omagbemi, Maureen Madu, Eucheria Uche,Ann Echiejile just to mention a few all brought glory to this country and the football house have failed to use them as Brand Ambassadors to raise the needed funds for female football. The politics in the Female Football department of the NFF is not helping matters and corporate sponsors such as Pepsi have pulled out of sponsoring competitions. The female league is a shame and the FA cup is just a make up and the injustice meted to our female teams and players still continues. What we fail to recognize is that Nigeria still remains a sleeping giant when it comes to female football and the grassroots potentials have not being fully tapped. Our performance in the World Cup could be better and it is high time we get quality coaches and respected training facilities. I am of the opinion that if 60 percent of what is given to the male team is extended to the female side, the sky will be the limit of female football. The Female Football League need to have an independent body like the League Management Committee and professionals given the opportunity to run the league. Clubs that want to participate should be given guidelines of what is expected of them and a face given to our female football administration. We have failed to qualify for two consecutive olympics in London and Rio and that is a sign of our decline.The next world cup is around the corner and if nothing is done urgently the same result is what we will get, lets put our thinking caps on now.