Nigeria will stage the 5th African Women Championship in football later in the year, hotsportslive.com can report.
This follows a confirmation by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that originally-designated hosts Gabon had pulled out saying they cannot meet the organizational requirements of a championship earlier fixed for September.
Nigeria’s Sports and Social Development Minister, Saidu Sambawa, had earlier indicated that CAF had approached Nigeria subtly and that the country would host the competition if Gabon eventually declined.
Nigeria hosted the inaugural competition for Africa’s senior female footballers in 1998, using Kaduna and Abeokuta, and also hosted in 2002, using Oghara and Warri in Delta State. South Africa hosted the 2000 and 2004 finals. Nigeria’s Falcons, who have played in every FIFA Women’s World Championship since the inaugural edition in China in 1991, have also won every edition of the African competition.
“We are surely going to host the women’s tournament. CAF has approached us and since we have the facilities and the wherewithal, we are willing to bail them out,� said a source in the Ministry of Sports and Social Development.
Source: Sunday Independent