The Deaf Eagles of Nigeria on Friday, 18 October 2024, walloped Niger Republic 4-0 in the final of the 12th edition of the West Africa Deaf Football Championship to lift the trophy.
Organized by the West Africa Deaf Sports Union, the grand finale, which took place at Mobolaji Johnson Arena popularly known as Onikan Stadium, saw the business like Nigerian team going for the kill right from the blast of the referee’s whistle.to register the first goal within minutes of kick-off through their utility play maker, Salaudeen Saley in Jersey No 9.
He was on target again twenty five minutes later register the second goal for Nigeria before interval to give the Deaf Eagles a two goal lead in the first half.
Not done yet, Salaudeen scored again in the early minutes of the second half to make it 3 goals for the Coach Kamiludeen Banjo tutored Deaf Eagles side thereby recording an hatrick in the match.
Emeka Ikechukwu scored the 4th goal for Deaf Eagles to keep the game beyond the reach of the visitors.
The victory makes it the 5th time Nigeria will be lifting this trophy. The last being in 2017 in Mali.
Impressed by the perfect organization of the Championship, the representative of the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS), Mr. Sadeck TChagnaou who handed the giant trophy to the Nigerian team, praised the President of the West Africa Deaf Sports Union ( WADSU) Mr. Ibrahim Amuda, the Nigeria Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) and the Main Organizing Committee for putting up a good show and vowed that the Championship has come to stay as an annual event.
Mr. TChagnaou appealed to all the member Countries to encourage their deaf athletes to participating in such competitions by supporting them with funds.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh applauded the the Nigerian Deaf Eagles for lifting the trophy, noting that the victory will surely spurr other Deaf Sports athletes in becoming better individuals to themselves, the society and the country.
Represented by the Director of Sports in charge of the Lagos liaison office, Mrs Nkana Mbora, the minister appealed for more sponsorship for deaf sports in the country. He called for more collaboration within the member countries to guarantee their ward’s participation in future Championships and even hosting bigger events.
According to him, Nigeria hosting this tournament was impromptu following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, the supposed hosts of this 2024 edition.
“So what Nigeria did was to rescue WADSU and thank God we delivered by hosting a flawless Championship”, he concluded
Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS),
Prof. Moronkola has joined in congratulating the Nigerian team, but quick to add that they deserve more than what they are getting in terms of final assistance at present.
