President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has urged the Nigerian Under-20 female football team, the Falconets to win their final match against Germany in Canada and get welcomed like heroines.
In press statement signed by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Reuben Abati, dated Saturday, Auguts 23, 2014, President Jonathan who is on a private visit to Germany spoke to the Falconets via a phone call to them at their base in Montreal, Canada at about 3:15 pm Nigerian time, speaking personally to captain of the team, Patience Okaeme, top scorer, Asisat Oshoala, Assistant Captain, Deborah Okoye, Courtney Dike, Uchechi Sunday, the delegation leader ,Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu, Head Coach Peter Dedevbo and other members of his team.
The president hailed the players for reaching the final of the tournament once again, urging them to go a step further than their 2010 feat on Sunday, August 24, 2014 by defeating Germany and bring joy, pride and glory to the soccer-crazy country.
In his words: “You have done very well by getting to the final. I urge you to crown your efforts with ultimate victory tomorrow by playing with the greatest possible artistry, discipline, determination and patriotic zeal I look forward to receiving you at the Presidential Villa with the winners’ trophy and you can be assured of the immense gratitude of the Federal Government and the very appreciative people of Nigeria,”
President Jonathan went ahead to assure the Falconets that though it will be late in the night in Germany by the time the falconets take on Germany, he along with his aides will be awake as will millions of Nigerians to watch and cheer the falconets to victory
