Nigeria’s national team, Star Eagles, relish experience in Morocco

Nigeria’s national blind football team, Star Eagles, believe they have gained more experience and exposure from their recent international outings and would soon dominate the special sport in Africa.

Other teams in the competition were Mali’s national blind team, an Egyptian side, Cote d’Ivoire’s national blind team and the host country, Morocco.

Defending champions, Morocco, retained their title in the championship they first won in Nigeria in 2019 by defeating Nigeria, Cameroun, Mali, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt and Libya.

Blind football, which is a relatively new sport in Nigeria, has rules similar to regular football, but with some modifications. It consists of a five-man squad with four blind players and one sighted goalkeeper.

The Star Eagles are trained in the Football Academy at the Resource and Recreational Centre for the Blind at the Bina Foundation for People with Special Needs, a non-profit organisation that works for improved personal development, economic empowerment, social inclusion and human rights of people with special needs in Nigeria.

The Star Eagles were represented at the competition by a team of players, goalkeepers, guide, team manager, coaches, technical assistants, a physiotherapist, and doctors. Team players include Oba Azubuike (captain), Innocent Charles Enag, Ekene John, Okpalanze Izuchukwu, Ndubuisi Victor, Kwaghtsule Abraham, Biega Jeremiah, Chukwuebuka Ugwuoke (goalkeeper) and Chukwuebuka Uzoewulu (guide/coach).

Special delegates from Bina Foundation to Morocco, who volunteered in different capacities include the founder and president of Bina Foundation, Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu; the immediate past president of the Nigeria Para Athletic Federation and the new president of the Nigerian Para