Sports Minister to host victorious Flying Eagles, Team Nigeria scrabble team in Abuja

Sunday Dare, Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports Development, will host members of the victorious Flying Eagles squad to the WAFU U20 tournament and the all-conquering scrabble team to the West African championships in Abuja on Monday.

The Flying Eagles beat Benin 3-1 in Friday’s final of the WAFU tournament in Niamey, Republic of Niger, while the country’s scrabble team swept the stakes at the West African championships in Accra, Ghana.

The Minister spoke to both teams immediately after their resounding successes in Niamey and Accra, commending them for doing the nation proud.

In Accra, Nigeria’s Eta Karo emerged the Championships’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) as Team Nigeria swept the top-nine places, emerging the best country in the competition.

The Minister had visited the scrabble team on the eve of their departure to Ghana and urged them to be worthy ambassadors of the nation, a charge that has now been followed through.

Olobatoke Aka, the President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, thanked the Minister for his support and promised that the NSF will ensure Nigeria maintains its status as a global leader in the sport.

In his chat with the Flying Eagles after their victory, the Minister expressed his delight with the team’s performance and for restoring the nation’s pride at age grade football competitions.

He however charged them to stay committed to the greater goal, which is qualifying for the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2023.

The Flying Eagles beat the defending African Champions Ghana 2-0, drew 2-2 with Burkina Faso, edged Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 after extra time in the semi-finals before the convincing 3-1 win over Benin in the final.