By Andrew Abah, Benin
Mr. Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has charged the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to do everything possible to avoid permutation at the last minute of world cup qualifiers.
The Minister who spoke through his Media Aide, Kola Daniel, at the extra-ordinary congress of the NFF in Benin on Sunday, said he would have loved to attend in person “considering the vital role football play in our dear country, but I just arrived the country barely 24 hours before the Congress.”
He said, “I wish to use this opportunity to urge the football family most especially the Nigerian Football Federation about the World Cup qualification which is at the door step.
“We are starting our first World Cup qualifying match early next month and it is expected that we take the matches seriously and prepare very well so that we can as well qualify for the World Cup in Qatar 2022.
“We have two matches to play in the month of September, the match against Liberia and Cape Verde. I want to state here that we should avoid permutations at the dying minute. We should get ready to pick maximum points when needed at the early stage of the qualifiers so that we will not find ourselves in a tight corner.
“Consequently, I want to also use this medium to wish you a fruitful deliberation in your Congress and come out with plans that can as well bring about the growth of football in the country. The grassroot football should be one of your major focus so we can as well present a formidable team that would bring about podium performance in the U17 and U20.
“The NFF remains the lead organization in football development and it must retool for the work ahead. I am sure this NFF leadership can do it if they want to do it.”
“The FG Committee on 10-year football master plan will soon be announced.
“If you can genuinely put the country at heart in your Congress, we will continue to get it right as far as football is concerned. I wish you great deliberations,” Dare said.
