Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, along with top government officials, will attend the Super Falcons’ send-off dinner before the team departs for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
According to reports, the FIFA Women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place over a period of one month, starting from July 20 to August 20.
According to a statement issued by Ademola Olajire, the NFF’s Head of Communications, on Thursday, the dinner will be held on Saturday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
“We are expecting the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Ismaila Abubakar, as well as other top sports officials.
“A good number of the team, as well as technical and administrative officials, are expected alongside the rank and file of the Nigerian Football Federation led by the President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi.
“The event at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel will also attract corporate chieftains, members of the diplomatic corps, and a range of football stakeholders.
“On Sunday, the nine-time African champions will depart the shores of Nigeria for a 15-day camping programme in Australia before they enter into camp for the tournament beginning from July 20 to August 20,” Olajire noted.
Nigeria’s first match of the finals is against Canada on July 21 at Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium, followed by matches against Australia and the Republic of Ireland at Lang Park in Brisbane on July 27 and July 31, respectively.
According to reports, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand will be the largest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in history, with 32 teams – the same number as featured in the men’s finals in Qatar last year.
It is also the first FIFA senior competition to be hosted by two countries in two different confederations: Australia in the Asian Confederation and New Zealand in the Oceania Confederation.
Nigeria’s captain, Onome Ebi, will be one of the tournament’s oldest players, at 40, alongside Brazil’s Marta and Canada’s Christine Sinclair.
The three women will compete in their sixth FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament.
According to the Nigerian Football Federation, the Australian High Commission will host the Falcons to dinner 24 hours before the Send-off at the Transcorp Hilton, courtesy of the Acting High Commissioner, Her Excellency Leanne Johnston.
Report shows that the Super Falcons are in Group ‘B’ alongside Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Ireland.
Nigeria has previously played the Canadian and Australian women’s national teams at the FIFA World Cup.
The Canadians have been unable to defeat Nigeria at the World Cup, drawing 3-3 in 1995 and losing 1-0 in 2011.
Nigeria’s 2015 FIFA World Cup match against Australia ended in a 2-0 victory for the Australians.
