I SUGGEST A MIXED WORLD CUP

  AFTER WATCHING THE FALCONETS PLAY AGAINST GERMANY IN THE FINAL OF THE UNDER-20 WOMEN WORLD CUP IN CANADA AND SEEING THE LEVEL OF SKILLS AND IMPROVEMENT DISPLAYED IN THE COMPETITION, I AM BEGINNING TO ENVISAGE A SITUATION WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE A MIXED WORLD CUP COMPETITION OF FIVE MALE FOOTBALLERS AND SIX FEMALE FOOTBALLERS IN A TEAM REPRESENTING THEIR COUNTRY. THE GOAL KEEPER, TWO OF THE FOUR DEFENDERS, ONE MIDFIELDER AND ONE ATTACKER BEING THE MALE PLAYERS IN THE TEAM WHILE THE REST WOULD BE FEMALES.

  IF THAT IS DONE, NIGERIA STANDS A VERY GREAT CHANCE OF GOING FARTHER THAN IT HAS EVER GONE IN ANY SENIOR WORLD CUP, IT WILL MEAN THAT INSTEAD OF MIKEL OBI WE WILL HAVE A PLAYER LIKE OSARENOMA IGBINOVIA WHO TO ME IS BETTER THAN MIKEL OBI TO ASSIST OGENYI ONAZI IN THE MIDFIELD, FORGET THE FACT THAT SHE IS A GIRL, SHE IS FASTER WITH THE BALL AND HAS A CLEARER IDEA OF WHAT TO DO WITH IT AT EVERY POINT IN TIME COMPARED TO MIKEL OBI. WE WILL HAVE OUR GOLDEN GIRL, ASISAT OSHOALA MAKING DARING RUNS INTO THE OPPONENTS VITAL AREA AND LAYING DOWN PASSES FOR EMENIKE TO STRIKE, WE WILL HAVE COURTNEY DIKE ASSISTING EMENIKE IN THE ATTACK LINE, AYINDE WILL BE THERE TO ADD QUALITY TO OUR GAME, SARAH NNODIM AND THE FALCONET´S CAPTAIN EBERE OKOYE WILL LEAD OUR DEFENCE.

  I CAN´T WAIT FOR FIFA TO BEGIN TO EXPERIMENT THIS IDEA, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF ARAB NATIONS WILL KICK AGAINST IT ON THE GROUND THAT IT CONTRAVENES THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, IT IS IN THEIR RIGHT NOT TO PARTICIPATE BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT EVERY DAY, MEN AND WOMEN, ESPECIALLY IN NONE ARAB NATIONS ARE ENGAGED TOGETHER IN THE SAME PROFESSION ALL OVER THE WORLD, SO WHY NOT ALSO IN FOOTBALL? ESPECIALLY IF IT WILL PLAY TO THE FAVOR OF NIGERIA AND IMPROVE OUR CHANCES OF WINNING SOMETHING GREAT AND SPECIAL IN FOOTBALL.

  MAYBE THE RULES OF THE GAME HAVE TO BE MODIFIED A BIT TO SUIT THE NEW SITUATION, BUT THE QUALITY OF PLAY THAT I SAW IN YESTERDAY´S FINAL BETWEEN NIGERIA AND GERMANY WHICH GERMANY EVENTUALLY WON BY A LONE GOAL SCORED IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE EXTRA TIME HAS NO REASON WHATSOEVER TO ENVY WHAT IS APPLICABLE IN MALE FOOTBALL.