Minister for Youth and Sports for Nigeria, Sunday Dare has charged players of the senior national men’s team the Super Eagles to roll out their upset from the shocking and painful defeat to Tunisia in the Round of 16 stage of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations into one ball, and unleash it on the Black Stars as the two nations prepare to battle each other for a ticket to the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar later this year.
The sports Minister put his message across to the playing body of the Super Eagles at a virtual meeting with the Youth and Sports Minister and chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation by the Coaches Augustine Eguavoen, Emmanuel Amuneke and the playing body on Tuesday night. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss issues about Nigeria performance at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, and ultimately, the way forward as the nation seeks to unite and defeat Ghana in the World Cup playoffs next month.
Youth and Sports Minister Sunday Dare, in his opening address, enthusiastically heaped praises on the playing body and members of the technical team that represented the country at the AFCON, expressed confidence in the team and assured them of full support of the state as well as the football federation, the NFF ahead of the match against Ghana. Nigeria suffered early elimination from the AFCON at the Round of 16 after losing 1-0 to Tunisia, and the sector Minister wants the Eagles to visit their anger from that defeat on Ghana when they face off on March 24 and 27 for the first and second legs of the playoffs respectively.
“I know you are still unhappy about the loss to Tunisia, but I want you to visit the anger of the defeat by Tunisia on Ghana. We all know about the history of the rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana in football, and this is one fixture that we must not lose”, Dare charged the team, as quoted in a publication by the NFF.
Responding to an earlier plea by deputy captain of the team, William Ekong on the quality of the pitch of the second leg game in Abuja, the Minister assured of quality pitch and good support from the NFF to provide all things required for the team to beat Ghana and qualify to Qatar. Ekong pleaded, “We loved the pitch of the stadium in Garoua and it helped us play some good football. We would be delighted if the Abuja Stadium is in similar condition for the second leg.”
In his response, Dare assured; “We know that dogged spirit is there in you, and we also want you to see yourself as one big family. We have confidence in you that you can do it and will give you all the support. Coaches Eguavoen and Amuneke have smooth access to the NFF President and he will always be ready to provide what you need. As for the pitch of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, we have experts working there all the time and I assure you it will be in perfect condition for the match.”
