Super Falcons class of 1999 honoured at the third edition of the Aiteo-NFF awards held at the Banquet Hall of Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday evening.
The team captained by Florence Omagbemi were the first set to reached the quarter finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, staged in the United States of America, feat the Super Eagles are yet to equal since 1999 when the girls achieved it.
The class of ’99 defeated North Korea 2-1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena with goals from Mercy Akide and Rita Nwadike, before losing 7-1 to the USA despite taking a second-minute lead through Nkiru Okosieme. Defeat to the Americans in Chicago stirred something in Africa’s lone flag-bearer at the first Women’s World Cup to feature 16 teams.
In their next match, the Falcons flew past Denmark 2-0 at the Jack Kent Cooke Stadium near Washington DC, the goals coming from Mercy Akide and Nkiru Okosieme. In the quarter-finals, at the same venue, the Nigerian girls stormed back from three goals down to Brazil in the first half to tie the game 3-3, with Prisca Emeafu, Nkiru Okosieme and Nkechi Egbe the scorers.
Present at the award night are; Florence Omagbemi, Ann Chiejine, Yinka Kudaisi, Martha Tarhemba, Adanna Nwaneri, Eberechi Opara, Kikelomo Ajayi, Stella Mbachu, Rita Nwadike, Gloria Usieta, Marvis Ogun, Prisca Emeafu, Judith Chime, Nkiru Okosieme, Maureen Mmadu, Florence Iweta, Nkechi Egbe, Patience Avre and Mercy Akide-Udoh.
The set also produced the first Nigerian football centenarian, Maureen Mmadu that achieved 100 caps spotted by FIFA in 2009. Super Eagles only equalled the 100 caps in 2013 in South Africa.
MOLATsportgist 