MINISTER of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare has expressed his displeasure with both the result of Tuesday’s World Cup playoff in Abuja and the action that followed.
The Super Eagles drew 1-1 with Ghana’s Black Stars, and the Nigerian side got eliminated from the Qatar 2022 World Cup race on the away goals rule.
Moments after the final whistle, hundreds of fans invaded the pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium and went on the rampage, chasing after players and destroying property.
In reaction, Dare insisted his ministry had no part in the failure as they provided everything the team needed to succeed.
“We drew 0-0 in Kumasi and drew 1-1 here and that meant the away goals rule gave Ghana the edge. It is most unfortunate and regrettable that we are not going to Qatar, but that is sports. Nothing is 100% certain,” he said.
“On our part, the Federal Government gave every support necessary. We got the stadium ready in all its glory. We mobilised Nigerians and other football lovers to fill up the stadium.
“The NFF called up a solid cast of players. 60,000 voices sang the national anthem in what must have been one of the most uplifting moments one could imagine. The fans gave their vocal support till the very end.
“The president of the nation, though saddened by the tragic events in Kaduna was determined to lend his support, and not let terrorists determine and define the activities and schedules of the nation and its leaders with their opportunistic and wicked acts – which would be kowtowing to their agenda. On the day, it wasn’t enough.”
Dare promised to make significant changes that will get Nigerian football back on the right track after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2006.
“We will move quickly because we still have a lot of work to do to give Nigerians the calibre of senior team it deserves,” the minister said.
“We will review all that we did leading to the game, take tough steps to redirect the development of our football and restore the DNA of Nigerian football. Whatever is necessary will be done quietly, firmly and determinedly.
“I believe better days are ahead for Nigerian football but only if we make the necessary changes. We need to rebrand our football and return to the grassroot and youth football culture of the past. Nigeria is a football loving Nation and it deserves the best.
“I understand the unhappiness that followed our non-qualification for Qatar 2022. We take responsibility. We will rebuild and thank the Super Eagles players for their service.
“Our apologies as a football administration ecosystem go out to fans who struggled to make it to ther appropriate seating positions.
“That said, vandalizing and destroying sporting infrastructure at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium is not acceptable regardless of unhappiness. The Nigerians that did this must be condemned.
“When I watched the clips and after I inspected the damage, knowing the work and the amount of efforts and resources that have gone into resuscitating the edifice, both from the private and public sectors, it was just very saddening. In a single day, I was weighed down by our missing out of the World Cup and then the vandalisation. A very sad development.
“I saw a number of young persons destroying valuable items in the stadium. Obviously, as Nigerians they have a right to be disappointed, but they do not have the right to destroy public property in which monies from taxpayers and funds from patriotic private individuals were invested. No excuse can be advanced for destroying infrastructure put in place to fix infrastructure gaps. It is akin to shooting oneself in the foot. The mentality of destroying things built to serve law abiding citizens is condemnable and will be sanctioned.
“Already, work is ongoing. Two committees are working concurrently. An investigative committee is looking at the security breaches and the vandalization that occured while the other committee is a combination of people from the Sports Ministry, the NFF, Para Military and security people. They worked on the Nigeria vs Ghana match preparations .
“These committees are expected to give a comprehensive report by Tuesday next week.”
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