THE NIGERIAN AMPUTEE FOOTBALL TEAM IS SET FOR MEXICO 2018
The Nigerian Amputee football federation, after being banned from international competition for 5 years for non-payment of the WAAF affiliation fees, are now qualified to feature at the 2018 world cup tournament.
This ban has no doubt dealt a blow to the special football team, and an indication that very little support has been given to the special football competition by the football body.
Thankfully, the ban has been lifted and the special Amputee team are scheduled to feature at the 2018 Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico in October. The Nigeria team are to feature along side Russia, Brazil, El Salvado in group E.
Amputee football is an disabled sport played with seven players on each team. Outfield players have lower extremity amputations, and goalkeepers have an upper extremity amputation.
The handlers of the Amputee Super Eagles Team coach Victor Nwewe and Gbenga Dosunmu, is confident that the team is self motivated, and will certainly put up a good record at the mundial. He is certain that with the needed support from the football body, the Super Eagles will perform excellently.
The captain of the Amputee team, Prince Yomi Bamgbopa has expressed confidence in his team, and he is optimistic that they will make Nigeria proud. He commended the efforts of the football body in ensuring that Nigeria regained her membership with the World Association of Amputee Football Federation (WAAF)
For the President of the NAAF, Suleiman Isah, the return of the Nigerian Amputee squad to the international stage is a welcome development, and a good omen for the country. In his words, he said, “This is the beginning of many good things to come as a form of reshaping poor state of this great sport and lives of the footballer that were practically neglected.
He continued, “The journey to this achievement was not easy, but my happiness is that we have regained our membership with the parent body and will now be part of their activities.”
He added that the participation in the World Cup would serve as an exposure to the footballers and opportunity to boost the nation’s profile at the global level.
According to the NAAF Ambassador, Abayomi Fashoro, “Nigeria has a chance to develop the huge potential of the Amputee football, and bring it at par with football federations like Russia, Turkey, England to mention a few. The football body therefore, should provide sports facilities that would help improve the players, and promote the game.”
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