President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated 36-year old Nigerian, Wellington Jighere, who emerged overall winner of the World Scrabble championship in Perth, Australia.

A statement issued in Abuja by Mr Femi Adesina, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said that Buhari was on the phone to Perth, Australia, to felicitate with Jighere.

Jighere, the World Champion, the first ever from Africa, defeated Lewis Mackay of Cambridge, England, by 448 points to 426 to win the championship in which 450 players across the world competed for.

“I called to rejoice with you over your performance. You have done the country proud and we are very happy.

“Please, pass my congratulations to other members of Team Nigeria,’’ the statement quoted the president as telling Jighere.

It said that Jighere was delighted at the phone call from the President and pledged to bring more glory to his fatherland.

According to the statement, five other Nigerian representatives finished among the top 50 scrabble players in the world bracket.

“Shortly after President Buhari got off the phone, news got to him that the Under-20 female football team, the Falconets, have qualified for the Women’s World Cup Tournament after beating Basetsana of South Africa by a lone goal in an away game,’’ the statement said.

The Falconets had walked a tight rope after scraping a 2-1 win over South Africa in Nigeria two weeks ago.

With the away goal counting double rule, all that South Africa needed today was a single goal, but the Nigerian girls turned the table.

Buhari described the Falconets’ qualification as a clear case of the indomitable Nigerian spirit.

“Such will soon be evident in all aspects of our national life,’’ he said.

[jigherewellington] vs. [nigelrichards] at Board 2.

(NAN)