FIFA commiserates with NFF over Ameh-Otache’s demise

World football governing body, FIFA has written to commiserate with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the demise of former Super Falcons’ star, Ajuma Ameh-Otache, who died on November 10.

In a letter addressed to NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, FIFA boss, Gianni Infantino said the world body was sad when it received the news of the former midfielder’s demise. He said: “l would like to express my deepest sympathy on hearing the news of the sudden passing of former Nigeria women’s national team player Ajuma Ameh-Otache, one of Nigeria’s most successful women internationals.”

Infantino, who eulogised Ameh-Otache, added, “Throughout her career, she played for Nigeria at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and also won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations the same year in South Africa. She also played for the Super Falcons at the 2003 All Africa Games in Abuja.

“After her career, she founded in 2014 the Goodland Rangers FC of Lagos, with whom she gained several consecutive promotions, reaching the national league division 1 this year.

“On behalf of the members of the international football community, I should be grateful if you could extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.

“We would hope that, in some way, our words of support may help bring a little bit of peace and solace in this time of sadness.”

Ameh-Otache, who played for Pelican Stars, made headlines as a successful female coach in charge of a male side.

Her husband, Peter Otache and three children survive her.

Meanwhile, NFF board member and Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode will on November 26, 2018 speak at a one-day seminar jointly organised by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) and the Association of International Press Sports (AIPS) Africa on women’s football in Africa, as part of activities for the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON), to be hosted by Ghana.

The one-day seminar with the theme: ‘Raising the bar for today’s women’s sports journalists,’ will be held at the Swiss Spirits Hotel and Suits Alisa, Accra.

A statement from the secretariat of the Association said Falode was found to be the best resource person for the seminar, as she is a tested Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) media personality, broadcast journalist and currently the Chairperson of the highly-rated Nigeria Women’s Football League.

The organisers said the seminar was expected to bring together sports journalists from participating countries in the AWCON and their Ghanaian counterparts.

President of AIPS Africa and an AIPS Executive Committee member, Mitchell Obi, would attend the seminar.

According to SWAG, Obi would also use the opportunity to address sports journalists on contemporary challenges facing the African journalists and the future.