Aisha Buhari Cup Is A Mindset Changer – Wemimo

Super Falcons Assistant Coach and Head Coach of Edo Queens FC, Wemimo Matthew has stated that the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Football Tournament will completely change the mindset of parents over girl-child participation in sporting activities.

The Aisha Buhari Cup with its theme Playing for Good is a nine-day, six-nation tournament in honour of the country’s First Lady, Dr (Mrs) Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, to be competed for by Africa’s powerhouses in women football namely hosts Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Mali and Morocco.

According to Wemimo, the football showpiece will go a long way to fast-track the growth and improvement of the game in the continent.

“It’s a very good idea and I give kudos to the initiators of the competition. I believe the tournament is going to add to the development of women football in Nigeria and Africa in general.

“Bringing the competition right here will have its positive impact on the way parents view girl-child participation in sports. Most parents in the rural areas will have the opportunity to see and watch the game for the first time.

“Of course, there are parents who do not believe in the existence of women football not to talk of allowing their girl-child to get involved in it but the mindset will change for good when they will see women across Africa engage themselves in the game of football.

“I am sure those parents will be happy with what they will get to see and it will encourage them to allow their talented female children to come out to play football. I think the whole idea behind the tournament is quite good and commendable and it will go a long way to develop women football in Nigeria and Africa,” Wemimo said.

The former Sunshine Queens tactician, who said that he had no problems with Nigeria’s group opponents, insisted that hard work would be key to success at the maiden edition of the tournament.

 “The group is okay but there are no longer underdogs in football. Morocco is a good side, so is Mali. I remember we once played Mali at a WAFU competition in 2018; that was the last time I saw them. They are no pushovers. we are a good side, too and should not feel we are in the weakest group.

“The Cup should be ours. It is happening right here and we should put in every effort to win so that it will be on record for life that we were the champions of the maiden edition of the Aisha Buhari Cup,” he said

Meanwhile, members of the Local Organizing Committee for the Dr Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament (Aisha Buhari Cup) were at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Friday morning to check out the facility and ascertain the pace of work at the venue.

During a courtesy call to his office a fortnight ago, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State assured the LOC members that work would proceed apace at the facility to ensure its readiness to host matches of the maiden edition of the Aisha Buhari Cup. He also assured that renovation work at the Agege Stadium would be done with rapidity.

At the Draw Ceremony on Wednesday, the organizers announced that the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, which is the site of the old Onikan Stadium, would serve as Venue A of the tournament, while Agege Stadium would be Venue B.

On Friday, the LOC members, including Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi (Chairman); Ms Aisha Falode (Director of Organization) and; Hon. Ayo Omidiran (Member) as well as Technical Committee members, Bola Oyeyode and Dotun Coker, were at the Arena to see for themselves the state of things.

“We thank Governor Sanwo-Olu and the entire Lagos State Government for the celerity of pace of work here, and at the Agege Stadium. We believe that both venues will be ready and all-good-to-go for the tournament,” Barr. Akinwunmi said at the end of the visit.

Nigeria, Cameroon, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa and Mali will battle for honours at the 9-day tournament that will see 10 matches in all played across Mobolaji Johnson Arena and Agege Stadium, with the opening match between Nigeria and Morocco on Monday, 13th September and the final on 21st September – both at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.

PHOTO: Barr. Akinwunmi (right) with Ms Falode (second left), Hon. Omidiran (second right) and Mr Oyeyode (left) at the inspection of Mobolaji Johnson Arena.