Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Chairman, Ibrahim Galadima, has described the year 2013 as success-filled for Nigerian football.

Galadima disclosed this while speaking with newsmen, pointing out some achievements to back his claim.

“We must thank Almighty God for the successes recorded so far in the outgoing year (2013). The fans, the stakeholders, the management staff, the coaches and also the players who did the hardwork on the field of play, have done a great job in ensuring that Nigeria football return to the top. 

“It’s been a very good year for Nigeria really but we want the year 2014 to be a better year for Nigerian sports. In doing so we need to consolidate and plan ahead,” he said.

Galadima also advised the football federation to develop new talents to replace the aging ones so as to forge a bright future and continuity for the game in the country. “In order to consolidate on what we have achieved so far, we need to develop new talents to replace the aging ones. 

The Super Eagles emerged champions of Africa at the 2013 CAF Nations Cup in South Africa, followed by the triumph over South Africa at the Nelson Mandela Cup played at the Moses Mabida Stadium in South Africa. The team capped up a successful year with the qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where they were drawn in Group F alongside Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran.

The Golden Eaglets, having lost in the final of the African U-17 Championships to the Baby Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire, went all the way to put up scintillating performance at the 2013 FIFA World Cup where the team clinched the trophy for the record fourth time, and scoring a total of 26 goals to break the 24 goal haul of Germany.

The team also won the Fair Play trophy, coupled with the revelation of the tournament, Kelechi Iheanacho, emerging the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and the winner of silver shoe, while goalkeeper Dele Alampasu won the Golden Glove award as the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.

Also, the Super Sand Eagles successfully defended the Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Championship after defeating Germany, Lebanon and Senegal in the process.