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Women
football was introduced in Nigeria in the late 70’s, but it did not
become popular until 1991 when Nigerians began to show interest. The
reason for the change in attitude was the quality of football played by
the Super Falcons, then led by Coach Paul Hamilton, en route the first
edition of the Women’s World Cup in China that year.

The Falcons went on
to feature in all the edition of the World Cup since getting to the
quarter-finals at the 1999 edition in the United States of America. This
is in addition to dominating the women’s game in Africa, winning all
but one edition of the African Women’s Championship held since 1998.

While the Super
Falcons made women football popular in the country, the junior national
teams have helped to keep it popular. Both the Falconets (U-20 team) and
the Flamingoes (U-17 team) have fared well in their latest outings;
reaching the final and the quarter finals in the U-20 and U-17 World
cups respectively.

Great teams

After finishing
second in their group at the 2010 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the Falconets
went on to oust USA in the quarter-final and Korea Republic in the
semi-final, before falling to Germany in the final.

At the U-17 World
Cup, in Trinidad and Tobago, the Flamingoes topped their group, but they
were knocked out of the tournament in the quarter final by Korea
Republic, who recorded a 6-5 victory.

Theses achievements,
coming shortly after the disappointment of the Super Eagles was a
breath of fresh air for Nigerians; with many wondering why the Nigerian
Football Federation (NFF) cannot direct half of what they spend on the
Super Eagles to cater for the ladies.

The Super Falcons
this year were able to reclaim the African title, which they lost to
Equatorial Guinea two years ago. Despite their dominance on the
continent, the Six-time African Champions have failed to go beyond the
quarter-final of the World Cup.

No development

Current coach,
Eucharia Uche, has expressed confidence that 2011 Women World Cup would
be better. Unfortunately, the achievements of the teams have not led to
better care for the women league in the country.

Consequently, women football in Nigeria has continued to thrive only at the national level.

With no sponsors for
a local women league, many argue that regardless of the beautiful
campaign by the national teams in recent times, the game is in dire
straits. This they said is because a women league to provide the
foundation for the national teams is almost nonexistent.

Sera Iloduba, a
player who used to star for Bayelsa Queens, has expressed disappointment
at the way things turned out with the league. She is happy for the
opportunity to play but she is getting discouraged.

“I have been playing
for five years and the only thing that has kept me going is passion I
have for the game,” she said. “My parents are now telling me to quit,
saying with all the hard work what do I get for my effort. Looking at it
from their perspective, it is true especially when I still have to ask
them for money to do things”.

Another player, Ogochukwu Atube, said the neglect by the NFF makes them feel like orphans.

“For the past six
years, we have not had any form of sponsorship and they expect us to
feel like we are part of the federation… If they can look for
sponsorship for the guys, I see no reason why they cannot do the same
for us”.

Though she plays in the league, Atube was not sure when the new season would begin.

“You see? That is
one of the things I am telling you. There is so much uncertainty that
you would get discouraged. I would not blame the club owners if they say
they want to pull out of the NFF”.

Giving women their due

About two weeks ago,
the Nigeria Women Football Clubs Owners Chairmen and Team Managers
accused the Nigerian Football Federation of neglecting the women league.

Joy Etim, Former
Falcons assistant Coach and manager of Puma FC, has warned that for the
gains achieved in women football to be sustained and improved, there is
the need to infuse funds into the grassroots. “Grassroots development is
the bedrock of any sports. If we do not encourage the upcoming
generation, how do we replace the older ones. Most of these girls are
financially constrained. Is it a girl that does not have transport fare
to come to camp, and has to trek that would be able to put up her best?”

For better results
in 2011 and for a sustained development in football, players and coaches
agree that there is the need to infuse much needed funds into the
league.

Atube said: “Maybe
part of the sponsorship fund should be earmarked to develop women
because with the way things are going, the women may never get the
attention they need if the hands of the sponsors are not forced. Absence
of funding is making the league very boring”.

Etim on her part believes that a separate body for the women will benefit the players.

“When there is
unequal representation in the NFF, do you think the women will be able
to have their say? So, I will suggest that women should also have their
own executives.”

Uche on her part reminded the NFF that many of the players who are now in the national teams started out from the local league:

“(The) female football league has not disappointed Nigerians.
Unfortunately, we have not been given our dues by the football
authorities. I am calling on the NFF to ensure that the league has a
viable department in the secretariat. In addition, corporate sponsors
must be wooed by them. Without sponsors, female football will not be
sustained”.