DEAR PRESIDENT SET UP A TASK FORCE TO SAVE NIGERIA FROM ANOTHER WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION EMBARRASSMENT
Your Excellency,
May this letter meet you well. I pray your media aides especially the personnel in-charge of social media finds this message important and necessary to bring it to your attention.
Permit me sir to begin by congratulating you on the Democracy Day celebration. May the spirit of true democracy envelop our nation for the good of all.
Sir, I hope the “misstep” during the celebration at Eagle Square didn’t create any health concern. We thank God it wasn’t more than a misstep…and I pray it’s a “step” into a greater Nigeria.
Your Excellency, you’re a sports lover and obviously you’re passionate about football. I say this boldly because some ex-internationals were part of your birthday celebration in 2023 and during your campaigns for the February 25, 2023 presidential election. As part of your activities, you played host to ex-Super Eagles players majorly of the ’94 and ’98 classes.
In that solidarity meeting, Pastor Taribo West led the prayer session…asking God to grant you victory in the election. Some notable ex-internationals present in that gathering at your Ikoyi residence included Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Peter Rufai and Taribo West to mention a few.
The role you played by approving funds to sort the huge debt owed literally all tiers of our national teams on the eve of Super Eagles trip to Cote d’Ivoire for the AFCON tournament spoke volume of your love for football.
Your Excellency, needless reminding you sir that, football is a binding force that has contributed immensely in keeping our beloved country together and more united.
The average Nigerian loves football. Each time the national team plays, Nigerians keep aside their ethnic and religious affinities and differences to come together to support their compatriots on the pitch cheering them to victory.
Your Excellency, permit me to say sir that, what football has won and done for Nigeria in terms of honour, glory and recognition, no other sector has brought such on our dear nation. This is the singular reason why football and sports in general requires huge and massive support from government.
It is therefore an aberration Your Excellency for Sports to be treated as a second-class sector which is only used for image laundering for the nation before the comity of nations.
Sports in my opinion is big business and could help in diversifying the economy to generate huge forex if only government understands and taps into this gold mine.
In the light of this, your administration can correct this wrong impression held by previous governments about sports hence, the sector should get more funds in and from the national budget to help create an enabling environment for development that would attract investors with the right attitude, policies, programmes and plans in making sports a money-spinning machine for the country.
Your Excellency, football holds a prime place in sports just as the Super Eagles hold a prime place in the hearts of millions of Nigerians.
When the team win, the nation rejoices…and when the team lose, the people mourn.
This was visibly noticed when Nigeria crashed out of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. The ticket was lost to Black Stars of Ghana inside the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja. The irate fans couldn’t swallow the bitter pills of not going to watch their darling team at the World Cup.
Sir, another World Cup is fast approaching with the qualifiers ongoing. Nigeria are placed fifth in the group of six countries after playing four games.
Super Eagles lost to Benin Republic in their most recent game. The defeat has placed Nigeria in a tight situation. There is anxiety in the air and a growing fear that Nigeria may miss another World Cup in succession.
If this happens, it won’t speak well of how we handle our sports sector. It would affect the youth emotionally and otherwise. It would take its toll on businesses especially when we consider that most small scale businesses are tied around sporting events like the World Cup.
Your Excellency, I don’t pray nor wish Super Eagles miss another World Cup tournament. I don’t pray nor wish Super Eagles miss a World Cup tournament under your administration.
At least we all know what the silver medal finish by the team in the last AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire did to the image of your administration.
Sir, it is time to step up from AFCON silver medal to participating fully and excelling in the 2026 World Cup.
If Morocco could reach the semi-final of Qatar 2022 World Cup then, Nigeria can do even better if we do the needful.
In doing the needful, I appeal to you sir to kindly set up a five-man TASK FORCE to be charged with the responsibility of ensuring the Super Eagles qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
This is very important at this point that it seems the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is under pressure and losing focus.
Stakeholders are equally worried as some are already calling for the resignation of the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Finidi George and all members of the Technical Committee of the NFF.
The Task Force members should be purely professionals with sound ideas of the job at hand. They must not be politicians who will have interests to protect and work for as against our collective national will of ensuring Super Eagles land in USA, Mexico and Canada 2026 World Cup.
Your Excellency, Nigeria’s first World Cup appearance in USA ’94 was midwife by a 5-man Presidential Task Force led by then Sports Minister Comdr. Emeka Omeruah, Dr. Amos Adamu, Alhaji Ahmed Sani Toro, Chief Adeboye Onigbinde and Chief Fan Ndubuoke.
The Task Force set up in 1993 toured around, consulted widely, successfully initiated plans and brilliantly executed programs that culminated into winning the USA ’94 World Cup ticket for Nigeria
Some of these gentlemen are still alive and ready to serve if called upon.
Sir, let’s save the Super Eagles World Cup qualification campaign. It is only your office that can fix this situation.
Sacking the coaching crew isn’t the solution to the problem. It will create more problems. More so, the NFF don’t have the funds to settle Finidi if his contract is terminated. He has a two-year contract which is just in its first month.
Chopping off the head isn’t the solution to a headache. A Task Force set up by your office to report directly to you or the Vice President, Alhaji Kassim Shettima, will fix this challenge. The men to do the job are available. They shouldn’t be politicians Your Excellency.
Accept my most sincere and highest regards Your Excellency.
Thank you sir for finding this letter necessary to be attended to.
DESMOND EKWUEME
