Aisha Buhari Cup: Embrace Football As Your Career – First Lady Tells Nigerian Girls

The First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, has admonished young girls to make football their career choice.

The wife of the nation’s president gave the counsel on Thursday while receiving the President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino at the State House, Abuja, Naija News reports.

Mrs Buhari said she decided to collaborate with the Nigeria Football Federation to promote women football in Nigeria and worldwide through the Aisha Buhari Football Tournament, “to build on the gains achieved so far and to create additional opportunities for the girl-child.”

She called on the International Federation of Association Football, Confederation of African Football, and the NFF to ‘show more support and encouragement to female players both at local and international levels.

In a statement titled, ‘Aisha Buhari charges girls to embrace football’, the First Lady said she is confident with football, “we have an opportunity to influence and increase positive attitude towards gender equality and development.”

The statement made available to newsmen by the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the First Lady, Aliyu Abdullahi, stressed that the benefits of football spread across the coaches, officials, and administrators on the one side, and to family members and the society on the other.

Buhari said: “I, therefore, call on FIFA, CAF, and NFF to show more support and encouragement to female players both at local and international levels.” 

She commended the FIFA President for his support of women’s football and his participation at the event.

Naija News had reported earlier that President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday received the President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino and the CAF President, Patrice Motsepe at the Presidential Villa.

The FIFA President during the visit to the State House, presented a number 10 jersey, a FIFA logo, and a football to President Buhari.

The meeting had in attendance the minister of youth and sports, Sunday Dare, and the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick.