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A Special International Report
Prepared by
The Washington Times
Advertising Department - Published on September 30, 1999
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Sponsors (1) Federal Ministry of Finance
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Women’s soccer on the rise
The 1999 Women’s World Cup, held in the United States, saw a spectacular performance by the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s national team. The Falcons made it to the quarter finals before being eliminated by perennial power Brazil in the first ever women’s world cup match to be decided by an overtime “golden goal.”
Their progress in the U.S. marked an unprecedented turn in African women’s soccer. No team had previously made it out of the first round. The Super Falcons defeated North Korea 2-1 but suffered a lopsided loss to the experienced – and eventual Cup Champion – U.S. side. They rebounded to trounce Denmark 2-0 to make it into the quarter finals. During one of the tournament’s most spectacular matches, the Falcons lost in overtime to Brazil 4-3 to be forced out of the tournament, but only after a spirited rally late in the second half tied the game at 3-3 to force extra time.
American ace Michelle Akers gave the Nigerian women credit for their aggressive and physical, if sometimes overly so, style of play. Despite the seemingly easy win given the 7-1 margin, Akers’ post-game comments emphasized that scoring was not the only challenge for the U.S.. “The Nigerians were not only extremely fast, quick and built like brick walls, but they were ferocious in their tackling,” Akers said.
International soccer recognized their outstanding play as the Super Falcons left the U.S. ranked fifth in the world and, in another African first, were given an automatic bid to play in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Patience Avre, Super Falcons star forward, said their success at USA ’99 was due to hard work and prayers. “We are very grateful to God for helping us achieve this much.” Mercy Akide, another Nigerian star, said “When the U.S. beat us, we did not lose hope. We thank our supporters for helping us look forward to our next match against Denmark.”
Avre and Akide, a former sprinter turned Falcon playmaker, were selected for the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) all-stars team. Akide was the only Nigerian to play on the FIFA all-stars team that beat the U.S. 3-2 prior to this year’s world cup.
Bola Abidoye, a female referee, also made history by becoming the first Nigerian to officiate a world cup match. She was the center referee during a preliminary match between Germany and Italy.
The road to success, however, has not always been easy. Although women’s soccer began in the early eighties, bias from the traditionally male-oriented sports organizations presented obstacles. Another factor in the slow rise of the women’s game was the lack of international experience. In the run up to the first women’s world cup in 1991 the Super Falcons won their preliminary matches against Ghana, Cameroon and Guinea to become the only African representative, but lost all of their first-round games. The second world cup in 1995 saw the Nigerian team again make it through to the first round only to be eliminated after one draw and two losses.
Prior to USA ’99, the Super Falcons were given little chance to make it out of the first round. “These were the girls nobody gave a chance to survive but they proved bookmakers wrong,” Austin Akosa, a member of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), said. “Their effort is commendable and has shown clearly what determination can do. Their qualification for the 2000 Olympics is a source of national pride.”
Upon their return to Nigeria, the Super Falcons met with newly elected President Olusegun Obasanjo who, in a departure from past government’s tradition of raining money on successful sports teams, presented them with “Certificates of Honor” while lavishing praise upon the team for their efforts. “I welcome you because you have done us all proud. The honor that you have brought to yourselves and Nigeria cannot be quantified and, in fact, should not be quantified by material gains.”
Obasanjo, the first civilian head of state since 1983, believes soccer is a unifying force in Nigeria during the country’s move toward democracy and that the Falcon’s accomplishment “joined hands” with the government in contributing to change.
The president went on to say that the initial prejudice against women’s soccer was because many people in Africa do not regard international soccer as a women’s game as well as the male chauvinism prevalent in Nigerian society. Obasanjo followed up this remark by saying efforts were under way to change these views and that the Super Falcons had performed better than their male counterparts.
In an interesting epilogue to the Super Falcons success, Avre, Akide and goal-keeper Florence Omagbemi were reportedly offered athletic scholarships to play for an American university.
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Table of Contents (1) It's a new dawn over Nigeria |
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A booming shot cracks off the foot of a green-shirted gazelle and curls past the outstretched hands of the hapless keeper, ripping the net once again. Welcome to the Nigerian national women’s soccer team, Super Falcons style.