By Goodluck Ikiebe
Following the outcome of November 16, 2023 football match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Likuena (Crocodiles) of Lesotho, the Federal Government has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to look into and correct all the lapses observed during the match with a view to putting a much better performance in Rwanda on Sunday 19th of November 2023 against Zimbabwe.
The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, made the call in a statement that he personally signed on Friday and made available to the Ministry’s Directorate of Press and Public Relations.
The Minister stated that the Government and football loving people of Nigeria take the qualification for the 2026 World Cup very seriously and as such will want the Super Eagles to qualify especially, having missed out on the 2022 world cup in Qatar.
He emphasized that qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is not negotiable.
The Minister, who apologised to Nigerians for their inability to watch their National Team play live, called on relevant bodies to avoid a repeat of such.
“It is not good enough that Nigerians could not watch their National Team play in their country, a repeat of same should be avoided and NFF will be expected to register Nigeria’s displeasure with the appropriate authority in FIFA”
“We apologize to Nigerians, most of whom anticipated to watch the game on television”, he noted.
Enoh charged the Super Eagles of Nigeria to be more incisive for the rest of the qualifying series, saying that, Nigerians are all rooting for their success and moving on.
The statement read this:
“On Thursday, the 16th of November 2023, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, I joined sports loving Nigerians to watch and cheer the Super Eagles of Nigeria play against the Likuena (Crocodiles) of Lesotho.
A clean sheet and goals were not too much to expect from our National Team, given our FIFA ranking and pedigree in football, matched against the Lesotho team especially.
“I must say that our expectations were high, albeit the performance of the Super Eagles against Lesotho fell short.
“The Government and football loving people of Nigeria take the qualification for the 2026 World Cup very seriously and want the Super Eagles to qualify. Having missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is not negotiable.
“I urge the Nigeria Football Federation to look into and correct all the lapses observed in Thursdays match with the aim of putting in a much better performance in Rwanda on Sunday, the 19th of November 2023 against Zimbabwe.
“Furthermore, we understand that the qualifiers are a FIFA organized competition, and so the television broadcasting rights are in the World football governing body’s purview. Granted, the Ministry is taking appropriate steps in response to this situation.
It is not good enough that Nigerians could not watch their National Team play in their country. A repeat of same should be avoided and NFF will be expected to register Nigeria’s displeasure with the appropriate authority in FIFA.
“We apologize to Nigerians, most of whom anticipated to watch the game on television.
“Moving on, I charge the Super Eagles of Nigeria to be more incisive for the rest of the qualifying series.
“Nigerians are all rooting for your success.
Our Correspondent reports that the match between Super Eagles of Nigeria and Lesotho ended one goal apiece at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, with the less fancied visiting team drawing the first blood.
