West Africa Deaf Football: Victorious Deaf Eagles return home
NAN-S-1
Eagles
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, May 18, 2017 (NAN) The victorious Deaf Eagles of Nigeria on Thursday arrived the country after lifting the just concluded West Africa Deaf Football trophy held in Bamako, Mali.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria defeated the host, Mali by 2-1 at the final played on May 13.
Kamiludeen Banjo, coach of the team, who spoke to NAN, expressed delight for the success recorded by the team in the competition.
“I am grateful to God because we went; we saw and conquered without any form of support from the sport ministry or private bodies.
“Our patron, Emmanuel Ibru, financed the team in order to ensure that we participant and I am glad we did not disappoint him,’’ he said.
The team’s captain, Uchechi Chinonye, who spoke to NAN, through an interpreter said that the team commitment and determination all through the competition paid off.
“We played to instruction and in the long run, we came out victorious as a team,’’ he said.
Adeola Adegoke, a winger who scored the winning goal against Mali said that the team should be rewarded and recognised for the feat.
“I’m happy we won but `am also sad because we are not always treated well by the government and private organisations because of our disability.
“But I hope it will be a different thing this time,’’ he said.
NAN reports that eight countries participated in the competition which began on May 5 and ended on May 13.
The country won the maiden edition of the competition in 2010 and went ahead to win the title in 2011 and 2013 respectively.
The Deaf Eagles were also runners-up in the 2014 and 2015 editions. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/MZA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Maharazu Ahmed