AFCON: Imo FA hails Super Eagles qualification for semi-final

By Victor Nwachukwu
Owerri, Feb. 4, 2024

The Chairman, Imo Football Association, Mr. Ifeanyi Dike,  has hailed  the Super Eagles of Nigeria for their qualification for the semi-final game in the ongoing AFCON tournament.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the senior national team defeated their Angolan counterpart by a lone goal and dedicated the victory to late Samuel Okwaraji.

The commendation is contained in a statement signed by the Imo FA Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Angela Nkwo-Akpolu, and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Sunday.

Dike commended the resilience and dedication of the Eagles to defeat the Angolan team in Friday’s encounter in the continental tournament taking place in Cote d’Ivoire.

He also praised the team for dedicating the victory to late Okwaraji, saying the action was highly commendable and an honour to the memory of the late Imo-born Super Eagles goal poacher.

While he congratulated the team on its victory, Dike charged the squad to go all out and bring the trophy home to further consolidate the country’s unity.

“I know it is not easy for the Super Eagles now because the interest of over 200 million people rests on their shoulders.

“However, I appeal to them to give it their all and bring the trophy home.

“They have given Nigerians a new sense of unity and our prayer is that they will be crowned African champions.

“We at the Imo FA have implicit confidence in our boys and we know they will do us proud.

“As we all know, the late Okwaraji gave his best to the country even to the point of death and proved the greatest commitment to his fatherland, so we must honour his memory.

“Imo FA thanks the Super Eagles for dedicating the Angola victory to him and we remain hopeful that this will signal the immortalisation of our late brother and winning the AFCON trophy for all Nigerians,” Dike said.

He regretted that Okwaraji died while representing Nigeria in a match between Nigeria and Angola on August 1989 in Lagos.

“He died trying to give his best to his fatherland,” the state FA boss said.

He appealed to the Nigerian Government to immortalise the late footballer, saying that Okwaraji’s  octogenarian mother, who is still alive, had yet to recover from the shock of his demise.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Okwaraji, though a professional footballer, trained as a lawyer due to his quest for knowledge.